THE Stardust Charity Dinner at Vistana Hotel was a great success in raising funds amounting to RM150,000 for the Penang Family Health Development Association (FHDA) to carry out its programmes and support services for people living with HIV.
The 58-year-old NGO, formerly known as Family Planning Association or FPA, has been providing charity support services to victims of HIV and their affected families since the 1990s at a time when the disease was fatal with limited medication and fear in society.
Among its string of achievements were the Me and You (MAY) services which have registered more than 700 clients and the MAY4Kids programme which has been providing infant milk powder, food and financial aid to children and mothers.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who attended the charity event on Nov 10 as the Guest of Honour, commended the selfless and tireless services provided by FHDA.
“This year FHDA wellness clinic commenced non-occupational pre-exposure therapy for vulnerable individuals by Dr Yim Poh Yin. I understand it is the first and only NGO to date to offer this service. With this experience behind them in health service setting, I’d encourage those interested to help to see Dr Chow Ting Soo or Puan Jubaidah Nagoor, their volunteer Head of HIV programme who is instrumental in the hospital based peer support service,” Chow said.
It was also made known that FHDA won the last Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Award in 2012 as an NGO and Puan Jubaidah won the same award as an individual in 2006.
Also present were Penang FHDA president, Dr Choong Sim Poey, FHDA chairman Yeap Meng Chee, FHDA Trustee Datuk Khoo Yeoh Gan Hong and Malaysian AIDS Council president Bakhtiar Talhah.
Story by Victor Seow
Pix by Law Suun Ting