The festive cheer of Hari Raya and Christmas was shared with the HIV-positive on World AIDS Day which fell on December 1, 2004. MSD Malaysia employees spent over two days distributing more than 100 hampers filled with food and daily items to the HIV+ patients who were attending check ups and counseling sessions at Kuala Lumpur Hospital & Universiti Malaysia Medical Centre.
Much has been done to raise the awareness and education levels of HIV/AIDS in Malaysia. Despite preventive efforts, Malaysia is still faced with a rise of HIV/AIDS cases within the communities. In some instances stigma and discrimination continues to remain a large barrier for the HIV-positive trying to establish some form of normalcy in their lives. Therefore, the needs of the HIV-positive are easily forgotten during festivities.
”Actively reaching out to HIV/AIDS patients during the festive season is just one of the ways to help bring some festive cheer to their lives. We want to be proactive in reaching out to the HIV+ community and let them know that we care, said Mr. Ewe Kheng Huat, Managing Director, Merck Sharp & Dohme Malaysia.
Within our global network, Merck Sharp & Dohme is dedicated to provide patient and public education with regards to the prevention, care and treatment of HIV/AIDS. This is, in addition to the company’s efforts to increasing accessibility to treatment, initiating medical infrastructure, fostering partnerships and raising funds for specific HIV/AIDS needs.
Statistics from the Malaysian Ministry of Health showed that the confirmed HIV/AIDS cases to be rising. As of June 2004, there were 60,621 diagnosed with HIV infection with 6,523 deaths related to AIDS recorded. 6,756 new cases of HIV infection were reported in 2003 alone which translated to an average of 18.5 infections each day1.
(HIV-positive: Individuals infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus)
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