Showcase of Malaysian business responses to the AIDS epidemic

Malaysian presentation at the 22^nd International AIDS Conference in Amsterdam, the Netherlands

AMSTERDAM, 25 July 2018 –  Malaysia make a strong showing at the 22^nd International AIDS Conference in Amsterdam (AIDS2018) amidst a backdrop of renewed optimism and strengthened commitment by global citizen to end AIDS by 2030.

AIDS 2018 is attended by more than 18,000 delegates consisting of AIDS activists and civil society leaders, researches, corporate funders and international multilateral cooperation agencies.  AIDS Conference is the biggest healthcare related conference of any kind.

Malaysian AIDS Foundation (MAF) and PETRONAS presented a Satellite Symposium entitled “Building bridges with businesses: The Asian way”  on the first day of AIDS2018 that showcased the Malaysian business response to the HIV epidemic in Malaysia. The symposium was chaired by Professor Dato Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman, the Chairman of MAF, with Bakhtiar Talhah, President of Malaysian AIDS Council and Dr Kumarajothy R. Supramaniam, Head of Occupational Health, Group Health, Safety, Security & Environment of PETRONAS serving as the Satellite Co-Chair. Speakers from the Ministry of Human Resources and the Ministry of Health was also invited by the MAF to presents the Malaysian perspective.

(Left to Right) – Dr. Ahmad Fitri Abdullah Hair; Director, Occupational Health Division, Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH), Ministry of Human Resource Malaysia, Dr. Kumar Supramaniam (Satellite Co-Chair); Head, Occupational Health, Group Health, Safety, Security & Environment (GHSSE), PETRONAS, Mr. Afsar Syed Mohammad; Senior Technical Specialist, GED/ILOAIDS, Geneva, Mr. Bakhtiar Talhah (Satellite Co-Chair); President, Malaysian AIDS Council, Chairman, MBCH, and Professor Dr. Adeeba Kamarulzaman (Satellite Chair); Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Executive Committee Member, International AIDS Society, Chairman, Malaysian AIDS Foundation at the AIDS 2018 Satellite Symposium.

The symposium highlights the success of the Malaysian Business Consortium for HIV/AIDS (MBCH); business-led alliance committed to fighting HIV/AIDS. MBCH was established by MAF as an avenue to promote greater participation of Malaysian corporate in HIV/AIDS agenda.

PETRONAS, a member of MBCH, made Malaysia proud by presenting their HIV/AIDS Workplace Policy, which is at par among the best in global corporate practices. Their policy is comprehensive, inclusive and founded on the respect for human rights value and ensure that the rights of workers living with HIV in protected.

Taking centre stage at the Session is the ongoing effort by MBCH to push for the legislation of HIV/AIDS workplace policy in Malaysia. While great strides being made at the advocacy front, challenge remains, especially on the legal environment in Malaysia. The adoption and strengthening of the current HIV/AIDS Workplace Code of Practice – already in place since 2001 – into legal document is an option that being deliberated.

The AIDS 2018 Satellite Symposium Speakers (Left to Right) – Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Yunus; Principal (Occupational Health) Group HSE, PETRONAS, Dr. Kumar Supramaniam; Head, Occupational Health, Group Health, Safety, Security & Environment (GHSSE), PETRONAS, Dr. Anita Suleiman; Head, HIV/STI Sector, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Professor Dr. Adeeba Kamarulzaman; Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Executive Committee Member, International AIDS Society, Chairman, Malaysian AIDS Foundation, Mr. John Fairhurst; Head, Private Sector Engagement, The Global Fund, Mr. Afsar Syed Mohammad; Senior Technical Specialist, GED/ILOAIDS, Geneva, Ms. Joselyn Pang; International Programme Manager, Australian Federation of AIDS Organisation (AFAO), Mr. Rapeepun Jommaroeng; SHIFT Program Manager, Thai National AIDS Foundation (TNAF), Mr. Bakhtiar Talhah ; President, Malaysian AIDS Council, Chairman, MBCH, and Dr. Ahmad Fitri Abdullah Hair; Director, Occupational Health Division, Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH), Ministry of Human Resource Malaysia.

The Satellite Symposium also features eminent international guests speakers from the Geneva-based International Labour Organisation (ILO), the Global Funds for AIDS, Malaria & Tuberculosis, the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisation (AFAO) and the Thai National AIDS Foundation. Collectively, they provide a global perspective on private sectors partnership for AIDS. Discussions by the international panelists also revolved around key issues such as global trends in AIDS financing by private sectors and also challenges such as allocation efficiencies, determining the right area for social investment and the inclusion of key populations.

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Malaysian AIDS Foundation

The Malaysian AIDS Foundation (MAF) was formed in 1992 to raise and administer funds to support the activities and programmes of Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC) and its Partner Organisations. MAF funds prevention, treatment and care programmes conducted by MAC. MAF also distributes corporate donors’ funds to support projects that have been unable to secure government funding or projects located in parts of the country where resources are scarce. Learn more at http://maf.org.my

Malaysian Business Consortium on HIV/AIDS

The Malaysian Business Consortium on HIV/AIDS (MBCH) under the Malaysian AIDS Foundation is a platform for businesses in Malaysia to share and exchange HIV/AIDS information, best practices, and key learning experiences. It also serves as a warehouse for the pooling of HIV/AIDS resources. Its mission is guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

Contact

Malaysian AIDS Foundation

Azahemy Abdullah | 016-6465874 | azahemy@mac.org.my

Meera Abi | 016-4146400 | meera@mac.org.my