2

FRIDAY
30 November
2007

COVER
STORY

Taking
responsibility
IF YOU are in your teens or early 20s, you have never
known a world without HIV and AIDS. Although the epidemic has only been in existence in the past three
decades, its impact has been devastating in some countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.
In Malaysia, an average of four people between 19 and
29 years old are newly infected with HIV each day.
Yet, this remains a largely invisible epidemic because
we dont see or hear from HIV+ people. It is like they do
not exist. It is also easier to be in denial about the risks of
being infected because so much moralising surrounds
HIVs modes of transmission from having unprotected
sex to sharing needles when injecting drugs.
People living with HIV still feel compelled to keep their
status secret for fear of stigma and discrimination.
While the availability of affordable treatment now
means that people with HIV can stay healthy for longer,
there is still no cure for HIV, despite rosy reports of HIV+
people being able to lead normal lives.
The good news about HIV is that we know exactly how
it is being transmitted. So, technically we are all able to
prevent from being infected.
The bad news is that we are also humans with all our
frailties and failings.
Young people are vulnerable to being infected with HIV
because the very sense of invincibility with which we
embrace life to the fullest also makes us reckless.
Prevention methods experts advocate such as using
condoms when having sex may not work for some of us
for many reasons; maybe we do not know how to ask our
partners to wear one, or we cannot afford to buy or get
our hands on one, or we are trying to start a family.
In the end, perhaps the best defence against being
infected with HIV is acknowledging how we are vulnerable, and then taking the action to protect ourselves. It is
hard, especially when you are young and still unsure
about so many things, to be assertive about such matters
as addiction, sex and relationships.
Harm reduction is a controversial topic, but it is also
vital that everyone knows how to ensure they are safe
from HIV even when they are engaging in unsafe behaviour.
The reality is that HIV is not going away soon; not even
with scientists toiling to find vaccines and cures, or politicians shouting about abstinence and good values.
Preventing ourselves from being infected with HIV will
be a lifelong effort. So, start by acknowledging that every
one of us is vulnerable. Perhaps only then will we all pay
more attention to HIV/AIDS awareness campaign and
take the messages seriously.
Many youths are leading these efforts, even amid much
scepticism and indifference from their peers. This years
World AIDS Day theme Stop AIDS, Keep The Promise
Leadership celebrates people who are at the forefront and
taking the lead to stem the spread of HIV.
Todays R.AGE highlights students initiatives in leading
the response to HIV/AIDS and youths perspectives on this
disease.

Youth and AIDS

BY NIKI CHEONG, YAM PHUI YEE AND
NASA MARIA ENTABAN
THERE have been countless HIV/AIDS
prevention campaigns in our country.
Sometimes, you see youths hanging
around the campaign booths, where
their friends are the organisers of the
outreach programme in college. Are they
just doing it for the hype, or do they really want to do their part in stemming the
spread of HIV?
Why would you want to work on an
invisible epidemic? Many of us probably
do not know anyone who is HIV+ but
the statistics are alarming.
Out of the one billion-plus youths
between 15 and 24 years old worldwide,
some 10 million are living with HIV and
an estimated 6,000 youths are newly
infected with the virus every day, most of
them young women. In Malaysia, 35% of
HIV infections from 1986-2006 are
among those below 30.
Worldwide, there are 15 million
children and adolescents who are now
heads of households because their
parents have died from AIDS. That
means, we are losing a generation of
teachers, doctors, politi-

Dr Illias Adam
Yee
empowers youn
g people
in HIV/AIDS an
d sexual
reproductive he
alth issues.

cians and workers in many regions.

The theme for World AIDS Day this
year is Stop AIDS, Keep The Promise
Leadership. Young peoples participation
in the fight against AIDS is crucial to
safeguard a healthy generation in the
future.
Thilaga Socky Pillais first job as a volunteer at the Malaysian AIDS Council
(MAC) was cutting red ribbons when she
was in Form Three. The Universiti Malaya
student became interested in HIV/AIDS
when she attended a workshop called
Youth to Youth, which uses drama and
role-playing to create awareness on the
issue.
Since then, she has been spreading
awareness messages among her circle of
friends and beyond. During her
Malaysian University English Test class,
everyone knows that every public speaking practice for Thilaga will be another
AIDS talk.
Today, the bubbly girl gives talks to
secondary students. The facts she
present do not go very well with some
teachers. Once, after speaking on abstinence from sex, she went on to tell the
students that if they really want to have
sex, they should use condoms. The
teacher translated that line to the
audience in Mandarin: No
sex. You are too young.
Our young people are
humping around like rabbits
but we still want to be in
denial about premarital sex.

Condom usage is a big issue here

because you have people who say it
cannot be used because of religion, or its
uncomfortable, says Thilaga, 20.
After her talk, a girl approached her to
ask what a condom is and which part of
the body do you put it on.
Unlike other fatal diseases like cancer
or heart disease, we know exactly how
HIV is transmitted, and to prevent
ourselves from being infected such as by
not sharing needles, using condoms and
taking antiretroviral drugs to avoid
mother-to-child infection.
Since it is not a curable disease, even
youths must join in the fight and create
awareness in their circle and community,
as well as internationally. Perhaps not all
of us are eloquent speakers or medical
students but you can actually start doing
something from where you are.
During his holidays, Mohd Syukrin
Mohd Shamsudin, 21, helps out in the
Y2Y (Youth-to-Youth) Club under the
Family Planning Associaton in Kelantan,
as a volunteer and peer educator. Over
the years, he saw how the students
become more informed of sexual reproductive health and HIV/AIDS.
Previously, when we asked questions
on HIV, AIDS, oral sex, sexuality and so
on, they would just keep silent. After a
few years running the activities, some of
them can answer correctly and we are
proud of the progress, says Syukrin, a
student in Universiti Teknologi Mara.
The ignorance and apathy among

t. The bubbly
DS Council even
AI
n
sia
ay
al
M
IDS.
llai (left) at a
ts about HIV/A
Thilaga Socky Pi
condary studen
se
to
s
lk
ta
s
ve
girl gi

COVER
STORY

Mohd Syuk
rin
Mohd
Shamsudin
(in
black) has
been
actively inv
olved
in HIV/AID
S
awareness
efforts since
his
school day
s.

young people drives Dr Illias Adam Yee to

work harder in spreading the message.
Dr Illias, 26, is a FPA Penang volunteer
and youth advisor.
People think that its not part of your
life but actually it is. The more you see
young people who think it doesnt
involve me or Im not at risk so I shouldnt be bothered, the more you want to
do something, he says.
Due to his youthful looks and his ability to speak the same lingo as youths,
many of them feel at ease asking him
questions. Can I get pregnant if I have
oral sex? Is it okay to masturbate? There
are also teens who feel pressured to have
sex due to peer pressure.
By no means are we encouraging
high-risk behaviours. We talk about values and options like waiting and whats
important for me. We empower them
that way, that they have choices, he
explains.
Unfortunately, there are also HIV/AIDS
campaigns that have failed as well.
If you want to have a campaign, you
have to get the people involved. You
have to get the young people, the infect-

ed and affected to be involved.

Otherwise, it is not more than a beautiful
picture on a billboard, Dr Illias adds.
He remembers a dikir barat performance with AIDS and dengue prevention
messages that was aired on national TV
many years ago. The chorus goes like
this:
A.I.D.S... berbahaya
Aedes juga mengancam manusia.
I was confused. I thought aedes mosquitoes spread AIDS, says Dr Illias.
There is a great need for people with
HIV to step out, empower and give support to those who are infected and
affected. Who can really say I understand and mean it other than a fellow
HIV+ person?
Amos, 25, is a HIV+ person who will
soon work with the KLASS (a support
group for people with HIV) helpline to
give support to people infected and
affected by HIV, or those who want to
learn more about the disease. You can
even give support without having to be

THEY say theres strength in numbers, and

when it comes to fighting such causes as
HIV/AIDS, more heads are definitely better
than one. Student volunteers are increasing
year after year, and the organisations that
provide a platform for these noble young
people are recruiting more helpful youths as
time goes by.

FRIDAY
30 November
2007

physically present or reveal your name.

Counselling is very important for
HIV+ people to accept their status.
Without it, some people might keep to
themselves, sink into depression and this
might even lead to suicide, says Amos,
who went through hard times when he
found out about his HIV status.
Amos knows full well how important
counselling is because his turning point
came when he met other HIV+ people
who proved that there is life after a HIV+
diagnosis.
The first words I heard was from this
person was, Ive been HIV+ for almost
20 years. I was shocked because he didnt look it, but I felt a sense of belonging.
I told myself that there is still hope for
me, says Amos, who also actively participates in support groups for HIV+ people.
This is Amos way of giving back to
society and doing a good turn for those
who have helped him.

Doing it together
various issues, including HIV/AIDS.
MIYC has integrated HIV/AIDS educational talks/seminars/workshops within its
leadership training and educational programs for Malaysian youths in and out of
school, in order to create awareness as well
as develop peer educators among the participants.
To find out more, call 03-4270 3050 or
email indianyouth@hotmail.com.

AIESEC
Global student organisation AIESEC is a
leading body in the area of HIV/AIDS awareness emphasising on peer-to-peer education, members use themselves as tools to
spread the word.
International relations student Ariff Ali is
taking a leadership role in Standard
Chartered-AIESEC HIV/AIDS Learning
Network programme, facilitating HIV
educational workshops to parents and
youths.
The 23-year-old Universiti Kebangsaan
Malaysia (UKM) student has dedicated his
time and energy to spreading awareness on
HIV/AIDS for two years now.
Peer education is something that seems
to be working, as young people are more
willing to listen to their friends than figures
of authority, according to AIESEC member
Geralynn Wong.
You probably wouldnt listen to your
mum, dad, or aunt if they tried to sit you
down and talk about AIDS. But if someone
your age, someone you can relate to,
approaches you, it will sound more like a
chit-chat than advice or instructions, says
Geralynn.
Ariff feels that it is most important that
youths know they are not alone in spread-

Federation of Family Planning

Associations, Malaysia (FFPAM)

Ariff Ali (bottom right), facilitates in HIV/AIDS educational workshops under his student
organisation AIESEC.
ing the word and fighting the epidemic.
Thats why peer educators exist to try
and relate to young people, because we
know what its like to be them, he says.
Most recently, AIESEC peer educators got
involved in the 3R-Unicef AIDS Education
workshops in secondary schools around
Malaysia.
Along with the hosts of popular TV show
3R, they play interactive games with the
students and present facts about the dis-

ease, followed by a question and answer

session.
Log on to www.aiesec.org/malaysia for
more information about AIESEC.

Malaysian Indian Youth Council

(MIYC)
Made up of Indian youths, the organisation
is committed towards activating and
empowering youths with knowledge about

Family Planning Associations (FPA) do more

than help couples plan how many kids they
want to have. They provide educational
materials, conduct training and do advocacy
works among youth, men and women.
There is an FPA in every state that runs
outreach programmes on AIDS for youths.
In Kelantan, for example, the Y2Y Club for
youths brings Y2Y Roadshow to secondary
schools in Kota Baru, bringing awareness on
HIV/AIDS to urban youths.
In Penang, a group of medical students
organise outreach work under the banner or
the state FPA.
FPAs also provide information and living
skills to youths in human sexuality and
family life. You can receive counselling and
learn about leadership, assertiveness and
negotiation in issues such as dating and
substance abuse from youth-friendly educators.
To find out how you can contact your
nearest FPA, log on to www.ffpam.org.my/.

PROFILE

FRIDAY
30 November
2007

Being positive
For three HIV+ youngsters, living positively
means changing their lifestyles and
re-adjusting their priorities.
BY NIKI CHEONG

From left: Collins, Jamie and Fred.

Call HIV/AIDS helplines if you need

counselling as the counsellors have
been trained to help people deal
with the related issues.
BY IVY SOON
HISHAM Hussein has been taking calls on
HIV/AIDS and sexuality for almost two
decades now. As chairman of the Pink
Triangle (PT) Foundation an NGO that
provides HIV/AIDS and sexuality education
and support services Hisham had had
extensive experience dealing with those
infected and affected by the epidemic.
He draws upon these experiences when
he handles calls on the helpline.
There are all kinds of people who call us.
Some are straightforward; they just want to
gather information. Others want to know if
they could have been infected. Some have
family members or friends who are HIV+,
and are trying to find ways to deal with it.
Others already knew they are infected, and
are seeking help, says Hisham.
Yee Chee Ho, who volunteers as a counsel-

COLLINS, Jamie and Fred (not their real names) were

blissfully going about their lives when they were hit
with the news that they were HIV+. Their diagnosis
came as a complete shock, especially since they had
not even known that they were being tested for HIV.
I went to a clinic to test for STDs (sexually-transmitted diseases), Collins relates. They included all the
tests without saying anything.
He suspected something was amiss, but never
thought that hed be HIV+. In retrospect, he realises
that he should not have been all that surprised.
I guess at the back of my mind, I knew I was bound
to be infected, he says, admitting to not always
engaging in safe sex.
I was playing it safe at first. Well, safer because
nothing is safe. Initially, I was having protected sex,
but then you get more comfortable with a person.
Collinss situation is not different from many other
young people who are infected with HIV.
We do have information out there. But sometimes,
we take things for granted, says Jamie who was diagnosed as HIV+ last year after being in a steady relationship for almost three years. He was having problems
with his boyfriend, which lead to both parties seeking
solace in other sex partners.
I have been cautious. But in the heat of the
moment, these things are just not on your mind, he
says.
While the official data states that the spread of HIV
is most common among drug users, community workers feel that the fastest rising mode of transmission is
through sexual intercourse.
Fred does not know who infected him, but it does

not matter to him.

It doesnt help with the healing, says Fred, 28.
These days, he is focused on moving on and living a
healthier life.
Last time, I used to go out late at night. Now, Ive
trained myself to sleep early and be more healthy no
smoking, and no alcohol, he shares.
Jamie and Collins too are focusing on the future.
They may have had to make adjustments in their lives,
and make changes to their future plans after being
diagnosed as HIV+, but they are hanging on strong.
We just have to reprioritise things in life, Collins
says. Career wise, sure, certain jobs are closed but I
look at what is available now.
And even with some obstacles along the way, all
three remain optimistic.
Treatment is now available, and I can have a normal fulfilling, happy life, Jamie says. Yes, there are
implications but its not the end of the world.
Being HIV+ does not have the same implications as
it did back in the 1980s and early 1990s. Granted,
there is still no cure yet but the treatment that are
available are extending the lifespan of people with
HIV, and good support keeps them going confidently
through life.
When he first found out that he was HIV+, Fred just
kept to himself.
Everyday, I would go back and sleep and think that I
could not do a lot of things because Ive got HIV, but it
was psychological, he says.
So he called the KLASS helpline and soon, started
joining support groups and talking to close friends.
But his family, as Jamies and Collins, is still in the
dark.
Theres no point telling my family, they cant do
anything to help me, Fred says. For the three, its not
about shame but more about not wanting to put a
burden on their family.
As Jamie puts it, I want to be able to let them know
I am doing fine, that there is nothing to worry about.

Dialling for help

lor with Klass (a support group for HIV+
people), has found out that callers are
usually more comfortable talking about a
friend who is HIV+ before they gain the
trust to reveal that they are ones who are
infected.
Confidentiality is almost always the most
important thing counsellors have to reassure callers of.
Due to the stigma and discrimination
surrounding HIV/AIDS, most people are
terrified about revealing their HIV+ status.
Callers need not reveal any details about
themselves to the counsellors who would
respect their clients need for anonymity.
The counsellors at PT Foundation and
Klass had all gone through rigorous
training to man the helpline. Volunteers
are equipped not only with extensive
knowledge on HIV/AIDS and the
availability of support services, but also
the necessary skills to handle the callers

anxieties and concerns.

About 60% of those in the counselling
training course dropped out. Training is hard
because counsellors have to resolve their
own issues before they can help others.
Of the 40% who finish the course, only
80% will end up as counsellors as some
people just cannot make the cut, shares
Hisham.
One of the most important attribute a
counsellor must have is a non-judgmental
stance.
Counsellors are supposed to be like
mirrors for the callers to see themselves. We
do not provide the answers, explains
Hisham, who mans the helpline every week.
Chee Ho has been doing telephone
counselling on HIV/AIDS for three years, and
admits that it can be daunting initially even
with the training he received. Counsellors
are aware that they shoulder a huge responsibility as their answers could affect their

clients actions and decisions.

For him, callers asking for information are
easier to handle. Once in awhile, there are
clients who need emotional support.
Inexperienced counsellors would usually
refer the case to those with the expertise to
deal with such cases.
Callers can sense it when we are
genuinely trying to help them, so we just
have to be sincere in what we do, says Chee
Ho.
Many organisations, apart from PT
Foundation and KLASS, offer telephone
counselling because it offers callers the
anonymity to ask questions or present their
situations without inhibitions.
Some helplines are also like one-stop
places to get information on everything,
from basic HIV/AIDS facts to contact details
of support service providers. For those
infected and affected by HIV, their first step
to living positively with HIV begins by
dialling one of these helpline services to
reach out for help.
Turn to P12 for information on AIDS/HIV.

ISSUE
Knowledge is
BY SHARMILA NAIR

power

ONE effective way to prevent from HIV infection is by being aware of the risks. Many people lack
even the basic knowledge of how HIV is transmitted, the effects of the disease or what treatments are available for the HIV-infected.
With as many as 16 new cases of HIV reported on average daily last year, it is extremely important to drive the HIV/AIDS awareness message home.
However, many young Malaysians feel that there are not enough HIV/ADS awareness messages in their communities. Here is what they have to say about why the messages dont seem
to be getting through.

Dominic Ong, 19,

Mass Communication student
I dont think
that theres
much of an
impact from the
message that
we see out
there. Please
dont start a
campaign where
every local
celebrity would
talk about the
issue on prime
time television.
What good is it to have celebrities sitting on a couch and talking about HIV
and AIDS? It doesnt make a difference
in anybodys lives because at the end of
the day, people would only remember
seeing the celebrities and not about the
serious issue they are speaking about.

Soo Jue Liene, 18 ,

Mass Communication student

FRIDAY
30 November
2007

Chin Kar Yan, 18,

Mass Communication student
The campaigns usually feature older people
doing activities that later leads to HIV/AIDS.
How come they dont portray any young
lives? How are we supposed to look at older
people and go, Oh, that will happen to me
too? Get some young people into the campaigns so that we could see how relatively
similar their lives are to ours.

If you go to You Tube, you can find French

commercials on HIV/AIDS. Where are the
Malaysian commercials? We dont have
any of them here. There was a dikir barat
song on AIDS before and they used to play
it every time during cartoon breaks.
Children
memorised
that song
although
some barely
understood
its meaning.
All they
knew was
that AIDS is
bad and
they should
stay away
from it.

We should always start young. We need to make

HIV/AIDS a subject in school so that children
would grow up knowing what the virus is, and
how to protect themselves from being infected.
Right now, we shouldnt be too ambitious and
force everyone to say STOP AIDS. We cannot
stop it in a day or two ... it will take years. All we
can do now is to work towards slowing down the
increasing rate of infections. For that, we need
the future generations help.

If you could describe HIV/AIDS

with just one word, you'd say...

Chan Wai Yee, 23

Journalism graduate
I remember going to a play in which all of the
actors were HIV+ and they put on a show depicting how they became infected with the virus. It
was very educational because they were acting
scenes from their own true life, just like yours and
mine, showing how normal people like them can
get infected.
I guess the reason why I still remember the play,
although I watched it years ago, is because it was
the first time I saw the HIV+ people themselves
come out to act. If
only we could
have more of
such stage plays,
then chances are
that more people
would watch it
and the message
would be conveyed to them.
Televise those
plays and youd
get a bigger audience.

Samantha Yeoh, 19,

Mass Communication student

Ivan
Cheong, 23,
Electrical
Engineering
student
I think that
theres not
enough impact
from the messages that we
see today. In fact, I
dont even remember the last time I saw an AIDS
related message, be it advertisements or posters.
There are only so much of the lame advertisements that an intelligent person can take such
as a man walking into a brothel or injecting himself with drugs.
We dont need ads like that anymore. Get real
HIV+ people to come out and talk about their
story. If theyre afraid, then re-enact their lives in
a real way. True to the heart testimonials make
the greatest impact.

"Dangerous"
Angelina Ang, 23
Mass Communication student

"Catastrophic"
Mike Cheng, 23
Sales Representative

"Scary"
Navina Govind, 19
Computer Technology student

"Death"
Jonathan Woo, 19
Graphic Design student

"Unfortunate"
Daneya Surya, 18
Mass Communication student

"Stop"
Priya Ananthan, 24
Public Relations officer

"Epidemic"
Edora Ariff, 20
Creative Multimedia student

"Taboo"
Elizabeth Lee, 19
English Language student

"Disaster"
Wong Pek Mei, 23
Mass Communication student

"Unexposed"
Chin Pei Ling, 19
English Language student

"Unwanted"
A. Anulia, 24
Accounts executive

"Disease"
Renita Che Wan, 24
Writer

The
people's
paper

GRAPHICS 2007

VOX

VOX

It wont happen to me
Young people share with R.AGE why they feel that they are safe from HIV/AIDS.

FRIDAY
30 November
2007

FRIDAY
30 November
2007

I live my life to
the fullest yet in
a very healthy
way. Puteri
Nur Eiman, 23,
communications
student

I am loyal.
Zainuddin Salim,
25,
student/model/
singer

Im single Alda Evan, 25,

music executive
Ive been well
educated on the issue;
therefore I know the
precautionary steps to
take to keep me safe
from the disease.
Julie Kuan, 21,
business, marketing
and finance student

I choose not to do
drugs and remain pure
until marriage
Charis Geevarughese
(left), 23

I mix with the right,

motivated and high-spirited people. Dianne
Bungan, 23, TESL student

I use
protection.
Mike, 23,
journalism
student

I lead a healthy lifestyle.

Vivian Toh, 24, writer

In this information based era, the

widespread of information empowers
us to be fully aware of AIDS and the
issues that revolve around it Siti
Hawa Anurddin, 24, veterinary science
student

Im fully aware of how you can get it

and am sensible enough to avoid those
circumstances. Samantha Tan, 22,
dancer/actor

Im not gay
Joseph Benjamin,
23, engineer

I choose abstinence until marriage. Jamie Tan, 23,

planning and database executive, with her boyfriend

Im not a drug
addict. Alex Hooi,
23, journalism
student

Im aware and
Im safe.
Ash Nair, 27,
singer

Im not a prostitute. Yvonne, 24, teacher

I have been
aware of it all
my life. Ellie
Chee, 18,
architecture
student

QUIZ

9
FRIDAY
30 November
2007

Are you

Today's generation of youth has not lived in a world without HIV/AIDS. Scary
thought, isn't it? Have you ever asked yourself how much you know about this
disease? Well, take this quiz to test your HIV/AIDS knowledge.

savvy?

1
2
3
HIV is...

a. A virus that attacks the immune system.

b. A biochemical weapon discovered by terrorist.
c. A virus planted by the extra terrestrial so that it.
will be easier for them to take over the world.

If you're tested HIV-positive, it means that ...

a. you should never leave your home.
b. you still have a chance to lead a normal life.
c. you're okay. Positive means good, right?

The scientists believe that HIV

originated from ...
a. camels in Saudi Arabia.
b. wild cats in China.
c. chimpanzees in Africa.

a. Wash our private parts before having sex.

b. Use protections such as condoms.
c. Pray together before having sex.

Scientists have worked hard to find a cure for AIDS and ...
a. Finally they found it in avocado seed.
b. They still have not found the cure.
c. Have made it available on eBay. In fact, you could get a
discount

Approximately how many people will be living with HIV/Aids

by end of 2007?
a. 21.7 million
b. 62.2 million
c. 33.2 million

8
9
10

To spot a person with

AIDS is ...

a. easy because they

always wear a red ribbon
on their clothes.
b. fairly easy because
they are always
coughing.
c. very difficult because
we all look the same.

To reduce the risk of contracting HIV,

I always ensure that my partner and I ...

You are at risk of an HIV infection if ...

a. You shared a syringe with multiple individuals without changing
the needle.
b. You gave an infected person a long, lingering French kiss.
c. An infected person coughs in your face.

Gays and lesbians are ...

a. Not prone to HIV infection because they only have sexual
relationships with the same sex.
b. Less likely to be infected.
c. Equally at risk as heterosexuals.

Now that you've answered all of the

questions on HIV and AIDS
... when exactly is World AIDS Day?
a. Tomorrow

b. Today

How did you fare?

HIV

1 to 3
Hmm ... time to start reading up on the virus
Google is a good option. Knowing about
HIV will help you prevent the virus and like
what people say, prevention is better than
cure ... and that's a good thing because there
is no cure just yet.

4 to 6
Not too bad. You do know something about
HIV and AIDS but really, there's no harm in
wanting to find out more, you know?

Information and knowledge about HIV and

AIDS will surely help you and your loved ones
keep yourself protected from the disease.

7 - 10
Well done. You are very well aware of the
epidemic. It'll really be good if you don't just
keep the information to yourself and share it
with your family and friends instead. You
know, talking about HIV and AIDS is the best
way of getting the message across.

c. Yesterday

Answers: 1. a,
2. b, 3. c, 4. c,
5. b, 6. b, 7. c,
8. a, 9. c, 10. a

10

Pope speaks

PEOPLE
WATCH

FRIDAY
30 November
2007

Celebrities helping out

Kick me

THE stars were out

in New York last
week for the 7th on
Sale dinner gala to
benefit the fight
against HIV and
AIDS.
The event was
held at the 69th
Regiment Armory in
New York and saw
the likes of actresses
Liv Tyler
Kate Bosworth, Liv
Tyler and Amy Adams
in attendance. 7th on
Sale is a fashion experience which allows users to bid
on thousands of items from the world's top designers
Kenneth Cole, Marc Jacobs and Vera Wang, among
others on eBay where 100% of the proceeds are
donated to providing care, services and housing for
those living with HIV and AIDS.

HOLLYWOOD star
Samuel L Jackson
and blogger Perez
Hilton (pic) are
endorsing a childish
prank but for a
good cause.
American youth
organisation
YouthAids has
roped in the celebrities to
join in its Kick Me! campaign. Kick Me! is based on
the prank of someone sticking a Kick Me sign on
someone elses back without their knowledge. This is
in tandem with the unfortunate fact that 90% of people infected with HIV/AIDS may not know that they
are carrying the virus. The project calls on young people in the United States to wear a YouthAids Kick Me!
sign on their back to raise funds for the cause. To find
out more, log on to www.youthaids.org/.

Pope Benedict XVI earlier this

week called for intensified
efforts to stop the spread of the
HIV virus, saying he felt spiritually close to those suffering
from AIDS.
I am asking all people of
goodwill to multiply efforts to
stop the spread of the HIV virus,
to oppose the scorn that often
strikes those affected and to
take care of the sick, especially the children, Benedict told his
weekly public audience in connection with World AIDS Day.
I am spiritually close to those who suffer as a result of this
terrible illness as well as to their families, in particular those
struck by the loss of a close relative, the pope said. I assure my
prayers for all. AP

Message in a bottle
One million Coca-Cola bottles with messages from former South
African leader Nelson Mandela will be distributed in the run-up
to this years World AIDS Day. Reports state that Coca-Cola
South Africa initiated this project as
part of their association with
46664 Initiative, a non-profit
organisation owned by the Nelson
Mandela Foundation which focuses
Nelson
on raising HIV/AIDS awareness.
Mandela
In October, Mandela had
announced that the annual 46664
Campaign Against AIDS Concert
would be held in Johannesburg for
the first time on World AIDS Day.
The campaign has been named
after Mandelas prisoner number.

Going out there

Tomorrow is World AIDS Day and there
are several events being held across the
country to commemorate the occasion
and spread the awareness on HIV/AIDS.
If weve piqued your interest in the
cause, here is a list of some events you
might want to check out.

Inter-college AIDS Conference

Students from different colleges and universities are coming
together in the Inter-college AIDS Conference organised by
Youth to Youth. From 8am till 6.30pm on Dec 8, the conference will be taking place in Theatrette, HELP University
College main block. Entry fee is RM20 per person.
For more information, contact Cyril (016-312 1299), Wee
Khim (012-926 6769). You can also email
c6tsl_87@yahoo.com.cn or li_khim@hotmail.com.

All Womens Futsal Playoffs

Screen in silence
PT Foundation is providing anonymous HIV screening for those above 18 years old at the PT
Foundation Drop-in Centre. This service is provided
every Tuesday from 7pm-9pm with pre- and posttest counselling. To make appointments, call Hanafi
at 03-4044 4611 between 11am and 7pm,
Wednesday-Sunday.

The Red Carnival

PT Foundations Red Carnival will take place at Sungei
Wang Plaza from tomorrow till Sunday. There will be street
performances following this years theme Taking the Lead.
The event starts at noon on both days and ends at 7pm.

Riding for Life

The third Riding for Life event will feature Channel [V] VJ
Joey G and singer Hannah Tan to help raise funds for the
Malaysian AIDS Foundation and to promote HIV awareness.
Schedule:
Dec 1 Putrajaya to Port Dickson
Dec 2 Continue on to Malacca
Dec 3 Back to Kuala Lumpur
For more information, call 03-4045 1033.

Hannah Tan
Joey G

The hosts of TV show 3R, together with UNICEF, have

organised three futsal playoffs in Penang, Johor and
Kuala Lumpur in support of UNICEFs Unite for Children,
Unite Against AIDS campaign. The Central
Championships in KL is happening this Sunday at Sports
Planet Ampang.

UNICEF Youth Forum

(In relation to the First National AIDS Conference)
What: Living in the Age of HIV and AIDS: Are Young people
in Malaysia Responding?
Where: Legend Hotel Kuala Lumpur
When: 9am to 5pm today

UNICEF supported session

Young People and HIV
What: Talks on topics like The Challenges of Discussing Sex,
Drugs and HIV, PROSTAR Best Practices, Listening to Young
People for a Change and Sharing the Indonesian Experience
Where: Legend Hotel
When: Dec 1, 2pm to 3pm

PEOPLE

11
FRIDAY
30 November
2007

Act out loud

Noraziah Abidin (left)

and Khor Siew Chin.

BY YAM PHUI YEE

NORAZIAH Abidin is deaf, but she is responding to the urgent call for action to educate
other deaf people on HIV/AIDS. The 24-yearold preschool teacher from Lahad Datu, Sabah,
was one of the participants at a Youth to
Youth peer education workshop held early this
week, attended by members of organisations
for the hearing impaired across Malaysia.
I knew nothing about AIDS previously. I did
not know that HIV and AIDS were related,
says Noraziah. Noraziah doesnt think her parents know about the issue either, or if they did,
they never brought it up.
In many families where there is a deaf child,
parents are unable to communicate with the
child because they are not familiar with sign
language. The child resorts to only gesturing
important things they want to express or
write, if their parents are literate. The workshop Noraziah attended was facilitated by
AIDS activitst Chris Ng, who conducts peer
education workshops where participants learn
about how HIV is transmitted, what the prevention methods are, and how to deal with
issues like stigma and discrimination. Each
workshop is adapted for its participants, and
most of the time, meaningful discussions
emerge.
When we discuss issues, we look at the perspective of being deaf you are already discriminated because of your disability, being
young people think you are reckless what

BY NASA MARIA ENTABAN

BENNY Kgolo and Baatile Kobel appear serious in their suits, answering questions in a
very formal manner; an indication of how
seriously they take their cause.
The Botswanians have just finished a forum on Dells Youthspeak programme, facilitated by the Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC)
and conducted by young people.
Youthspeak, originally known as Youth to
Youth Theatre (Y2Y) is a programme that
spreads awareness on HIV/AIDS to youths
through drama.
Benny and Baatile brought with them their
experience of working with youths in a country where the HIV prevalence rate is high.
In Botswana, everything is run by the
youth all the awareness programmes and
events, except teaching in school, is handled
by us. Funding is never a problem because
HIV/AIDS is a serious issue, begins Benny,
22, a student in mass communications at
Limkokwing University of Creative
Technology (LUCT).
This programme is good because through
acting, the concept of HIV/AIDS gets across to
young people easier than a classroom lecture
would.
Also, having someone your own age
explain the epidemic to you and how it
spreads is less threatening and authoritative

An illustrated
mind map on
how HIV is
transmitted, the
consequences of
infection and
prevention
methods drawn
by deaf
participants of
the workshop.

SEX

now? says Chris, in relation to the

workshop.
Among the many story plots presented in
the workshop, participant Khor Siew Chin
loves the one where a young girl becomes
HIV+ but her grandmother does not know
what it means. When the grandmother asks
her tai chi friends about HIV, they panic. Some
tell her to make the girl drink water mixed
with burnt joss sticks and separate all her cutleries and clothes from everyone elses.
Stories on myths are very interesting

because they are real. People

talk about it. I like that
because it shows you dont get
the correct information just by
asking from people around
you, says Siew Chin, 19. She
points out that most of what
her deaf friends know about
AIDS are myths and she has
plans on dispelling them when
she returns home. Besides, games
and role-playing, the participants
were also educated on safe sex, and had
hands-on training such as learning how to put
on a condom.
I felt embarrassed at that time but I wanted
to do it because it was a good opportunity to
learn, Noraziah says.
Participants learn to be facilitators so that
they can conduct formal and informal peer
education when they return to their respective
communities. The result is a multiplying effect
as the message is delivered in a way that hear-

Being aware
Baatile
Kobel
Benny
Kgolo

than to have an older person do it, adds the

21-year-old Baatile.
In Botswana, HIV/AIDS is a subject that is
taught in school to primary school students,
and HIV testing without counselling is
unheard of.

Everyone must go through counselling

before they take an HIV test, to prepare them
for the results. At HIV/AIDS awareness events
and carnivals, there are booths where you
can get tested and receive the results
immediately, say the boys.
Radio programmes on HIV/AIDS are aplenty, as this is the best way to reach people in
the more rural areas.

ing impaired youths can relate to.

Mohd Afifi Ishak, or Pipi, 21, is determined to
do something for the 17 deaf students in
Limkokwing University of Creative Technology
where he studies graphic design. A story he
heard from one of the participants about a
deaf man who died of AIDS touched him.
I thought it wont happen because we (deaf
people) are in our own world and by being
ignorant of sex and HIV we wont be contaminated. The story of how this person died has a
strong impact on me and I must pass on the
information to other deaf people.
Regardless of whether you can hear or are
deaf, you can get HIV, says Pipi.
He also wants to share the knowledge with
his fellow Muslims. It is a taboo for them to
talk about sex, rape and molestation but now
he cant keep silent about warning them about
unprotected sex.
We young people are curious and dont
have the experience. Plus, parents dont tell
you some of this information, he adds.
Regularly, radios broadcast drama skits
about HIV/AIDS. There is also a show where
anyone can call and ask questions. Its quite
popular, and has proven to be one of the
best ways to spread awareness, says Baatile.
Unlike in most Asian countries, people talk
openly about HIV and AIDS in Botswana.
At family levels, everyone talks about it.
Youths and teenagers can talk about it
among themselves, unless there are difficult
issues. Then we talk to teachers, school leaders and experts, says Benny.
They have no answer as to why the number
of young people infected are increasing, but
they believe that denial is a big obstacle.
Young people hear the message, digest it,
but always think it will not happen to them.
Maybe awareness is over-talked about, but
there are still people who have not heard
about HIV/AIDS, and even more who dont
fully understand it, says Baatile.
Dell Asia Pacific vice president and managing director Datuk Simon Wong understands
the need for more awareness, and hopes that
more youths will get involved in programmes
like Youthspeak.
Persistent ignorance regarding HIV/AIDS
cuts across demographics and locations in
Malaysia.
Misunderstanding is our one great issue in
this battle, and reaching youths is one powerful way to help overcome it, says Wong.

LIVING IN A WORLD WITH

FRIDAY
30 November
2007

BIJAK
PANDAI
This generation of youths has never known a world
without HIV and AIDS. Whether infected or not, we are all
affected by this epidemic. So, make sure you know
everything about HIV, and how you can protect yourself
from being infected.

What is
and
Aids virus

is transmitted
through
> Sexual intercourse with a partner who is
HIV+
> Injecting drugs with a needle or syringe that
has been used by someone who is infected.
> Using unsterilised equipments for tattooing or
piercing.
> From a pregnant mother to the child
in her womb.
> When a HIV+ mother
breastfeeds her child.

Is there a

n
r Huma s.
o
f
s
d
n
a
ru
HIV st
iency Vi d
c
i
f
e
d
o
e
Immun
r Acquir ome.
o
f
s
d
n
AIDS sta ficiency Syndr
ode
Immun

HIV is a virus that attacks your immune system.

Once HIV gets into your body,
> you may not feel or look sick, but you can infect others.
> over time, your immune system will weaken and you can fall sick.
> if left untreated, your body will not be able to defend itself from
diseases that can kill you. This stage is called AIDS.

Q&A

You cannot get

from

Are some people at

greater risk of HIV
infection than others?

> casual everyday contact.

> handshakes, hugs or kisses.
> coughs or sneezes.
> mosquito bites.
> toilet seats.
> sharing food.
> sharing utensils.
> bedsheets.

HIV does not discriminate.

It is not who you are, but
what you do that
determines whether you can
become infected with HIV.

Can you tell whether

someone has HIV or
AIDS?
You cannot tell by looking
at someone whether he or
she is infected with HIV or
has AIDS. An infected person
can appear completely
healthy. But anyone infected
with HIV can infect other
people, even if they have no
symptoms.

Testing for

12

If you are worried that you might

have been infected with HIV, stop
agonising and get tested.
If you have HIV, your body will
produce antibodies to fight it. It
can take up to six months after you
have been infected for these
antibodies to show up in a blood
test.
You can get tested at private and
government clinics and hospitals.
You should be offered counselling
before and after testing.

Are women especially

vulnerable to HIV?

for HIV/AIDS
Where to go
counselling

n
PT Founda6t1io
1
03-4044 4

WAKE

1
03-2692 686

re
Malaysian45C41a
03-7785

> But there is a combination of

drugs that can slow down the
virus' effect on your immune
system, and you can stay
healthier for a longer time.
> This treatment is available and FREE in all government
hospitals in Malaysia, with certain conditions such as
adherence to treatment regime.

KLASS

03-4045 368

6;

PENGASIH9;
03-6201 317

Women are at least twice

as likely to contract HIV
through vaginal sex with
infected males than vice
versa. This biological
vulnerability is
worsened by
social and
cultural factors
that often
undermine
women's
ability to
avoid sex with
partners who are
HIV-infected or to
insist on condom
use.

Tenaganita1
03-2691 369

The
people's
paper

GRAPHICS 2007/GN