International AIDS Memorial Day (IAMD) events

PT Foundation marks International AIDS Memorial Day (IAMD) 2010

Every year PT Foundation marks International AIDS Memorial Day (IAMD) with a series of events which serves both the community and the general public as a reminder of those of us who have passed away from HIV/AIDS and to show support and encouragement for those living with HIV, their families and the communities most at risk of HIV, all of whom are served by PT Foundation. HIV/AIDS affects us all with more than 87,000 persons have been infected with HIV in Malaysia since 1986.

The PT Foundation AIDS Memorial Day Event kicked in on the 7^th of May with the Cemetery Clean Up Gotong-Royong, which involved members of the community and their friends armed with cangkuls, brooms, bins and rakes cleaning up the Gombak Cemetery where many of our community members were buried. It was an awesome experience as the group went about their chores oblivious to the camera clicks of newspapers covering the event.

The second event AIDS Aware: Be the Message - a gallery exhibition that was open to the public on the 15^th and 16^th of May from 12pm to 8pm at the Annexe Gallery in Central Market, KL. The galley exhibition was a result of our collaboration with ruumz.com and Epson and featured photos of both celebrities and people from all walks of life holding up signs that are intended to educate the public about HIV/AIDS. The public was also invited to pose for a free picture holding up said signs in English, Malay and Chinese. The launch for this gallery exhibition was held on the 14^th of May from 8pm onwards for invited guests only. The launch included speeches from the chairperson of PT Foundation, Encik Hisham Hussein and James Chong from ruumz.com. During the weekend we saw over 300 members of the public participate in the programme by recording their personal messages on the photo wall.

PT Foundation’s main event, the IAMD Multi-Faith Memorial Service was held on the morning of 15^th May from 10.30am until 2pm at PBKS. The gathering, held in conjunction with International AIDS Memorial Day (IAMD) 2010 involved more than 400 community members from the Muslim, Christian, Buddhist and Hindu faith and was an opportunity for the community to remember the 13,000 persons who have died from AIDS in Malaysia. This event kicked off with speeches from the UN and Malaysian AIDS Council and was attended by such prominent public figures such as the Dutch ambassador in Malaysia, His Excellency Paul Beckers, Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir, Dr. Adeeba Kamarulzaman and Dr. Corinne Capuaco - Chair of the United Nations Theme Group on HIV & WHO Representative. The community then adjourned to different floors of our centre to pray according to their respective religious beliefs.

The event then concluded with lunch for over 500 people.

PT Foundation has done and will continue to do its very best to serve the communities most affected by HIV, and to continue HIV/AIDS education and prevention services. We thank everyone involved for the success of its events held in conjunction with International AIDS Memorial Day (IAMD).