Buddies of Ipoh

Activities: February 2012

2012-02-06T10:55:00.002+08:00

Clinic duties:

Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun, Ipoh

Wednesdays 1st, 8th, 15th and 22nd February

Hospital Taiping

Tuesday 28th February

Activities: September/October 2011

2011-09-14T20:57:00.002+08:00

September clinic:

Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun, Ipoh : 7th, 14th, 21st & 28th September

Hospital Taiping: 27th September

October clinic:

Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun, Ipoh : 12th & 19th October.

Hospital Taiping: 25th October.

Exhibitions/Awareness programmes:

2nd October 2011: Kampung Ulu Geroh, Gopeng (Perkampungan Orang Asli)

24th October 2011 (to be confirmed) : Taman Meru, Ipoh

Activities: August 2011

2011-08-01T12:35:00.002+08:00

Clinic duties Ipoh GH:

Wednesdays, 3rd, 10th & 24th August.

Clinic duty Taiping:

Tuesday, 23rd August 2011

Activities: July 2011

2011-07-04T17:45:00.003+08:00

Sunday 3rd July 2011 : Family Day at The Roots, Tanjung Rambutan

Wednesdays 6th, 13th, 20th & 27th July : Clinic duty at Ipoh GH

Tuesday 26th July : Clinic duty at Taiping Hospital

Activities June 2011

2011-06-08T17:22:00.002+08:00

Clinic Duties (Ipoh)

Wednesdays 1st, 8th, 15th and 22nd June.

Clinic Duty (Taiping)

Tuesday 28th June.

Activities: April 2011

2011-04-05T17:45:00.003+08:00

Clinic duties:

Ipoh - Wednesdays 6th, 13th, 20th & 27th April 2011

Taiping - Tuesday 26th April 2011

Public Awareness:

Exhibition at Dewan Serbaguna Chendrong, Jalan Tanjung Tualang - Sunday 17th April 2011

Talk & Exhibition at UniKL-RCMP, Ipoh - Saturday 23rd April 2011

Peer Support:

PLHIV gathering at Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun, Ipoh - Friday 29th April 2011

BOARD MEMBERS 2011/2013

2011-03-23T08:35:00.001+08:00

Chairperson: Afizah Bani Hashim

Vice-Chair: William Balasingam

Secretary: Prithi Mala Verma

Assistant Secretary: Manogaren Segaran

Treasurer: Nathaneal Selvaretnem

Committee members:

Khor Choong Len

Tan Wai Keong

Daniel Lee

Patsy Wong

Clarena Khoo

Muhamad bin Zakaria

Activities: March 2011

2011-03-08T20:23:00.005+08:00

Our volunteers will be on clinic duty at Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun & Hospital Taiping on the following dates:

Ipoh: Wednesdays 2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd March.

Taiping: Tuesday 29th March.

--------------------------------------

Buddies will be participating in 2 exhibitions this month:

1. Sunday, 13th March 2011 at Sunway College, Ipoh.

2. Saturday, 26th March 2011 at Dewan Serbaguna Chenderong, Bt 4, Jalan Tanjung Tualang, Batu Gajah. (*update: This function has been postponed to a later date. Date will be confirmed later.)

We will be displaying information on HIV/AIDS to create awareness amongst the public.

--------------------------------------

Buddies AGM will be held on Tuesday, 22nd March 2011 at our center. This year's AGM will include election of office bearers for the term 2011/2013.

HIV 101

2010-10-27T21:05:00.001+08:00

:: videos :: HIV 101

Exhibition at Kinta City

2010-03-11T20:47:00.005+08:00

In conjunction with the International Women's Day on 8th March, the Perak Women for Women (PWW) is organising a week long exhibition in Kinta City Shopping Complex, from 8th to 14th March.

Buddies is joining the exhibition from 11th to 14th March. Do come over if you are within the vicinity.

Awareness Campaign At Orang Asli Village

2009-12-07T20:44:00.017+08:00

Day/date: Sunday, 6th December 2009
Venue: Kg. Sg. Genting, Chenderiang, Perak

Buddy Bears for distribution

2009-07-31T20:32:00.004+08:00

Buddies of Ipoh will be distributing Buddy Bears for HIV children, during ICAAP 9 in Bali Indonesia.

Any organisations world-wide dealing with HIV children interested to get these hand-made bears for free, do get in touch with us:

During ICAAP:
At booth 14, Asia Pacific Village
Bali International Convention Centre (BICC), Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia
10th, 11th and 12th August 2009
9 am - 5 pm

Outside ICAAP:
Email us at hivbuddiesipoh@yahoo.com

ICAAP 9 Opens for Volunteers

2009-06-20T09:41:00.001+08:00

Jakarta (15 June 2009) In modern societies the most basic of all values is one of cooperation, helping one another, which will in turn help themselves. Besides being helpful to others, volunteerism is one way to ensure your professional skills are kept honed, your resume stays up to date, and you get new connections and contacts while away from school or work.

The 9th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP) to be held in Bali, Indonesia, from 9 to 13 August 2009 is an important and innovative congress in offering new ways to strengthen the health system in different countries by the sharing of information and experience, sharing of new scientific innovations, and is proof that the participation of civil society at all levels in policy making and monitoring is the best solution to address cross-border HIV pandemic.

In Asia and the Pacific, with its diverse cultures, religion, economy and politics, AIDS remains the main concern: AIDS remains one of the highest causes of death and loss of work for people aged 15 to 44 years. Although the total number of AIDS cases in Asia is relatively low compared to Africa, evidence shows that HIV infection is on an upward trend.

With the theme ”Empowering People, Strengthening Networks”, the 9th ICAAP will bring together individuals, institutions, companies, societies, and networks, whether governmental, non-governmental, and private sector, to share experiences and work together towards achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDG) by 2015 of reducing the AIDS pandemic.

The 9th ICAAP needs at least 313 volunteers. Of this total, only 102 people have registered for volunteer work in this biggest AIDS congress in Asia and the Pacific.

”We need as many volunteers as possible. But we are targeting at least 313 volunteers to participate. So we still need about 200 more volunteers for this 9th ICAAP,” the congress’s Volunteer Coordinator Madrina Mazhar said.

Madrina said that volunteers should have adequate understanding of volunteerism, adding that many benefits can be gained by being one, including a valuable opportunity to be involved in a major international event that will involve the participation of representatives from 65 countries.

”ICAAP volunteers will have the opportunity to significantly contribute to the success of ICAAP. They will be able to meet and connect with new people from countries around Asia and the Pacific. What’s more, we could build our own networking with people from all over,” she said.

Volunteer contribution in this event is significant to the success of the 9th ICAAP as their participation will be needed in all aspects of the congress organization. Requirements for being a 9th ICAAP volunteer include already being 18 years old, ability to speak and understand English, good interpersonal skills, as well as having empathy and knowledge on issues related with people living with HIV (PLHIV).

Those interested to become volunteers should register and receive more information through the website http://www.icaap9.org/. Registration is open until July 4, 2009.

For more information, contact:

Ika Nazaruddin
Pacto Convex
Ph 62-21 571-9973
Ika_nazar@cbn.net.id

Madrina Mazhar
Volunteer Coordinator
Ph. 62-361 9134040
volunteer.programme@icaap9.org

Ristya Paramita
Public Information Officer
Ph. 62-21-39838845/46
ristya.paramita@icaap9.org

ICAAP 9 Press Release

2009-06-03T20:56:00.006+08:00

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Jakarta [3 June 2009]. On 9-13 August 2009, Bali will host the 9th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP) – the biggest congress on HIV and AIDS in the region. Approximately 3,000 delegates from 51 Asian and 14 Pacific countries are expected to attend this congress. The theme of the 9th ICAAP is “Empowering People, Strengthening Networks” to support a vibrant community of empowered people, all across Asia and the Pacific, to mobilize a holistic and more effective response to the crossborder challenges of today’s HIV pandemic.

The Local Organizing Committee Chair, Prof. Dr. Zubairi Djoerban,Sp.PD-KHOM, who is also the Chair of the Indonesian AIDS Society (Masyarakat Peduli AIDS Indonesia), said “we recognize that ICAAP is the second largest AIDS forum in the world and are grateful for the confidence in Indonesia to host this important meeting. We are inspired by the decision and will work hard to assure that the congress activities will advance regional efforts to respond effectively to the challenge of HIV and AIDS today and in the future.”

Mr. JVR Prasada Rao, Director, Regional Support Team, Asia and the Pacific, Joint United Nations Program on AIDS (UNAIDS), added, “the 9th ICAAP promises to be an even better and bigger conference than previous ICAAPs. There will be evidence-based discussion on whether Universal Access can be an achievable goal by 2010 for many countries in Asia and the Pacific. Every facet of the epidemic and the region’s responses are featured in the wide array of session and activities.”

The congress will take place at the Bali International Convention Centre (BICC) in Nusa Dua, and is scheduled to be officially opened on 9 August by the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Mr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, in a ceremony at the Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK) Cultural Park.

ICAAP is a biennial gathering for the release and discussion of scientific, programmatic and policy
developments in the global response to HIV/AIDS and is convened by AIDS Society of Asia and the Pacific (ASAP). In his message to the 9th ICAAP, Professor Myung-Hwan Cho, President of ASAP said that “Indonesia has been given the opportunity to take bold and innovative steps n support of the regional response to HIV and AIDS. Countries of Asia and other regions will be waiting to see Indonesia take the lead.”

According to the Independent Commission on AIDS in Asia (2008), AIDS remains the most likely cause of death and loss of work days among people aged 15 to 44. The number of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Asia in 2007 is an estimated 5 million, with a number of new infections (380,000) comparatively speaking equal to the number of people who died from AIDS-related illnesses (380,000). In Oceania an estimated 740,000 people were living with HIV in 2007 of which 13,000 were new infections.

Reaching the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on HIV and AIDS requires all member countries to halt and reverse the spread of the epidemic by 2015; this includes the Universal Access target of 2010 whereby all those who need treatment should also receive it, and the urgency to strengthen each country’s health system to ensure effective delivery of services and response.

Mr Rao continued, “what is really impressive is that the conference will showcase the immense progress made by community groups, working together and in partnership with government and other partners, in spearheading the response in many countries in the Asia Pacific region.”

Similar to previous ICAAPs, sessions will be divided into Plenary Sessions where distinguished
researchers, community leaders and policy specialists share the latest information and experiences; 24 symposia on topics such as addressing legal barriers and criminalization of at-risk populations, and a leadership session for delegates from the Pacific region; 64 oral sessions on topics related to prevention, care support and treatment of HIV and AIDS, understanding socio-cultural, economic and political determinants in the AIDS response, and on leadership.

Besides these, 32 skills-building workshops will also be held to help delegates improve various skills that can apply to their daily work; Satellite Meetings and Exhibitions showcase the efforts of civil society and the private sector in the response to HIV and AIDS.

Distinguished guest speakers will include Michel Sidibe, UNAIDS Executive Director; Michel Kazatchkine, Director of the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM); Kyung-Wha Kang, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights; Dr Nafiz Sadik, Special Envoy for AIDS in Asia and the Pacific; Myung Hwan Cho, President of AIDS Society of Asia and Pacific (ASAP) and representatives from Seven Sisters, Asia Pacific Network of People Living with HIV (APN+), Asia Pacific Network of Sex Workers (APNSW), CARAM Asia, Asian Harm Reduction Network (AHRN), APCASO, APN Rainbow.

A Community Forum will also take place before the congress on 7–8 August, where various communities each have their own conference to identify and share common issues and experiences. Seven communities will be represented including people living with HIV (PLHIV); Injecting Drug Users (IDU); Interfaith; Men who have sex with Men (MSM) and Transgender; Sex Workers; Women, including Lesbians; and Youth.

The Asia-Pacific Village will be a friendly, fun and colorful venue to celebrate the region’s diversity, with arts and music performances, small group discussions, informal education activities, and regional stalls selling handicrafts and snacks made by people living with and affected by HIV and AIDS. The Asia-Pacific Village will be open to the general public.

Prior to the official opening ceremony on 9 August, a high-level meeting of AIDS Ambassadors will be held, co-hosted by the First Lady and National AIDS Ambassador, Mrs. Ani Bambang Yudhoyono, and AIDS Ambassador of Australia, Murray Proctor. The AIDS Ambassador’s Meeting will address the role of AIDS Ambassadors in the region in mobilizing greater action and accountability for the response.

For more information, please contact:

Ika Nazaruddin
Pacto Convex
Ph 62-21 571-9973
Ika_nazar@cbn.net.id

Elis Widen
Congress Coordinator
Ph 62-21 571-9973
elis.widen@icaap9.org

Ristya Paramita
Public Information Officer
Ph. 62-21-39838845/46
ristya.paramita@icaap9.org

Board Members 2009/2011

2009-03-25T11:04:00.003+08:00

Board Members for the term 2009/2011 elected during AGM held on 24/3/2009:

Chairperson : Afizah Bani Hashim
Vice-chair : Ooi Sze Hwa
Secretary : Prithi Mala Verma
Assistant Secretary: Manogaren Segaran
Treasurer : Nathaneal Selvaretnam
Members:
Karen Tan Beng Gaik (resigned)
Khor Choong Len
Daniel Lee (resigned)
Hon Wai Yee
Tan Wai Keong

Talks on HIV/AIDS

2009-03-23T21:33:00.003+08:00

Other than providing support service for people living with HIV/AIDS, the Buddies Society of Ipoh also strives on prevention by way of creating awareness amongst the public. This is done through exhibitions and talks.

A few of our volunteers are trained to give talks on HIV/AIDS to the public. Talks are usually given based on requests from interested parties. To date we have given talks to schools, clubs and university students.

Those in Perak who may be interested to conduct such talks at their schools, clubs, universities or even workplace, please do not hesitate to contact us for arrangements. We don't charge for the talks. It is up to the organisers if they want to give any amount of honorarium or donation, or nothing at all.

Children Education Fund/Education Sponsorship for Children

2008-06-09T20:15:00.003+08:00

The Children Education Fund (CEF) started off in 1999 when the Buddies of Ipoh were still under the Perak Family Planning Association.

The main and only objective of the CEF is to help lessen the burden of educating juvenile PLWHAs and children of PLWHAs who are our clients. It is not meant to be a total "take-over" of responsibility from the infected or affected family.

Expenses included under the CEF are the basic funding needed to get a child to school at the beginning of the year - various fees, workbooks, school uniforms, schoes, bags, stationeries and whatever that may be necessary. Bus fares may also be given on a case to case basis.

As The Buddies of Ipoh is determined to ensure that all the infected and affected children of our clients are not deprived of basic education, in 2007 we set up a Sponsorship Committee to come up with a programme called Education Sponsorship for Children where we hoped to get individual sponsors for each child needing financial assistance for schooling. After various meetings and branistorming sessions, the final set of guidelines, criteria and procedures for the programme was finally approved by the Board in October 2007. CEF will still be continued to cater for the children who need financial assistance at the beginning of each schooling year, while the Sponsorship is more for children who need financial assistance throughout their schooling years.

Responses from various individuals interested to sponsor were tremendous and to date we have 9 children under the sponsorship programme.

If you wish to sponsor a child's educational needs until he/she leaves school, and wish to know more about the programme, please do contact us.

Or if you wish to give a one time donation, you can always contribute to our Children Education Fund.

Outreach

2008-05-12T20:20:00.002+08:00

Our outreach pr0gram aims to prevent HIV/AIDS coming home to loved ones. For this very reason, we reach out to female Sex Workers (SW) and Trans Sexual (TS) sex workers in the streets of Ipoh.

Our team walk the dark streets and the back lanes to seek and reach out to these sex workers. We distribute to them condoms and tubes of gels for free. We also do take the opportunity to talk to them about the importance of using the condoms and at the same time encouraging them to go for blood test. We do offer them our support services should any of them or their colleagues be tested HIV positive.

While we admit that we may need to do more of these outreach programs to create more awareness amongst the sex workers, due to limited number of volunteers, for the moment we are only able to carry out the outreach program once a month.

HIV Clinic

2008-04-14T20:40:00.001+08:00

This is our support service at the HIV/AIDS Clinic at Ipoh General Hospital. Since this is during office hours, not all our volunteers are able to volunteer for this service - only those with flexi working hours.

3 teams, comprising 2 or 3 Buddies per team, take turns to attend the HIV clinic every first and third Wednesdays of each month. The Clinic starts at 10 am and ends at 1 pm. Patients are referred to us at the Clinic by the hospital doctors/nurses on duty.

Upon meeting the patient, first we give them a preliminary introduction of ourselves and the services we provide. We then engage the patient in dialogue and try to assess the extent of their need. At this early stage, emotional support is of utmost importance. Trust is established by the assurance of confidentiality.

Our main goal is to pair the patient with the most appropriate Buddy to become a friend so that long-term support is possible. The patient is then enlisted as a client. If, for any reason, the patients declines our support service, a Buddies brochure with our contact number will be given in case they change their minds later.

In any case, we ensure that every patient we meet at the Clinic is equipped with at least some basic knowledge regarding their illness.

Buddy Bear

2008-04-12T16:15:00.004+08:00

The Buddy Bear Project is an ongoing project of the Buddies Society of Ipoh. Its aim is to bring comfort and cheer to HIV/AIDS children in malaysia and all over the world. Presently these bears are being sewn single-handedly by a couple of senior citizens in Ipoh. Thanks to them we have more than 2,500 bears in our stock ready for delivery upon request.

Our Buddy Bears have not only been delivered throughout Malaysia but also to NGOs from other countries including Nepal, Cambodia and Thailand.

An application has also been filed with the Trade Mark office for the registration of the name "Buddy Bear".

Those interested to get these Buddy Bears for any HIV infected children, please do contact us.

Client Welfare/PAF

2008-04-01T14:55:00.001+08:00

Quite a number of our clients come from poor families, particularly the single mothers among them. While we don't make it a practice to give out money to our clients, we do our best to help them get whatever available financial assistance from various sources. Amongst the sources are:

1. PAEDIATRIC AIDS FUND (PAF)
This fund was set up by Malaysian AIDS Foundation (MAF) in 1996 to assist the poor children infected/affected by HIV/AIDS. This is to ensure that these children are not deprived of their normal childhood. With this scheme, MAC hopes to meet some of the urgent and basic needs thus helping the children to deal with their problems. Buddies help out to fill in and submit the application forms for our PLWHA clients.

2. WELFARE AID
While many poor families are eligible to apply for Welfare Aid, many of them do not know how to go about it. Buddies therefore help to submit applications for deserving PLWHA families, and follows up with the application to ensure that the poor families do get the much needed financial assistance.

3. SOCSO PENSION
This is another area where many do not even know they are eligible. Single mothers especially, with poor level of education, don't even know where to start. This is where our people come in to help them with the application and in getting the necessary supporting documents.

4. EPF WITHDRAWAL
We also help out some of our clients to withdraw their EPF under the permanent disability withdrawal. However, we do not encourage them to withdraw unless and until they are already too weak to work.

About Us

2008-03-29T20:56:00.005+08:00

The Buddies Society of Ipoh was set up to provide support service to People Living With HIV/AIDS, their families and friends. Initially we operated as a wing under the Perak Family Health Association (formerly known as Family Planning Association). In 2004 we decided to set out on our own as a separate NGO, registered under the Registrar of Societies.

Most of the cases referred to us are from the HIV Clinic at the Ipoh General Hospital. When we offer our services and the patients agree to accept, we will assign the most suitable volunteer (based on age, gender, race, etc) to the PLWHA (our "client") and the volunteer will become the "buddy".

Other than providing support services to PLWHAs, the following portfolios we have summarise the kind of services/activities we have:

1. Client welfare/PAF

2. Buddy Bear

3. HIV Clinic

4. Outreach

5. Children Education Fund (CEF)/Education Sponsorship for Children

6. Fellowship

7. Training

8. Publicity & Recruitment

9. Peer Support

10. Volunteer Care

A separate posting on each portfolio will further explain what we do.