The Opening of Stardust Charity Dinner 

Speech by Chief Minister of Penang

At The Opening of Stardust Charity Dinner 

10 Nov 2018
Hotel Vistana, Bukit Jambul, Penang

 

Dr Chow Ting Soo, the Organising Chairman of this fund raiser, “Stardust Charity Dinner”

Dr Choong Sim Poey, President of Penang Family Health Development Association aka FHDA (pronounced Fahda)

Ms Yeap Meng Chee, Chairman of FHDA

Dato’ Khoo Yeoh Gan Hong, Trustee of FHDA

Mr Bakhtiar Talhah, Chief Executive Officer of Akar Budaya, the main sponsor and President of Malaysian AIDS Council

Donors, Doctors and FHDA volunteers

Dinner Guests

Dato’-dato, Datin-datin

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

Warm greetings to all of you who are here today to attend this dinner in aid of HIV community service projects by Penang Family Health Development Association (FHDA). I wish to thank Infectious Diseases Consultant Physician Dr Chow Ting Soo, and the organising committee for inviting me here. It is a pleasure to meet all of you who have such passion for providing community services that complement and supplement government efforts.

FHDA is no stranger to me, as this NGO is 58 years old and was formerly known as Family Planning Association or FPA. I have been updated that there are life threatening issues pertaining to children, women and men living with HIV who are struggling quietly on their own as they dare not talk about the disease and how it affects them due to stigma and discrimination. Hence, this is at the cost of attending clinic or treatment. The disadvantaged and vulnerable among them lose faith in their treatment. Therefore, we need to help them to overcome their discrimination, low self-esteem and fear of being ostracised by their families and friends. This is done by this NGO through counselling, and sharing updated information in a program supplementing the government’s efforts.

FHDA has been providing charity support services to people living with HIV (PLHIV) affected families since the 1990s, at a time when HIV was fatal, there was limited medication and fear in society. FHDA’s charitable support services, known as Me And You (MAY) services registered over 700 clients. Their MAY4Kids programme provided infant milk powder, food, financial aid to children and mothers. From 2008 trained volunteers commenced free anonymous HIV voluntary counselling and testing, advocating relentlessly for access to health care for all. Currently their staff conduct outreach to marginalised communities, bringing case management clients to government clinics and following up with them to assure adherence to treatment.

This year, their 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 would encourage those interested to help to see Dr Chow or Puan Jubaidah Nagoor, their volunteer Head of HIV programme who is instrumental in the hospital based peer support service.

FHDA has won the last Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Award in 2012 as an NGO and Puan Jubaidah Nagoor won the Award as an individual in 2006. This is a very distinguished award as only one award is presented by the Malaysian AIDS Foundation after stringent process of selection.

I appreciate that this NGO took the trouble to fundraise to maintain and expand their services. They are fortunate that for this function, they have a good partnership with their main sponsor Akar Budaya Sdn Bhd the venue sponsor Hotel Vistana Penang. Indeed, I am impressed that many of the founders and trainers of the HIV services at FHDA came back today in a sort of celebration that the programme they began continued to grow and flourish. Thanks to all the generous donors and sponsors who have contributed to the cause.

I hope all the guests here tonight enjoy the dinner and entertainment, and wish you all good health and happiness.

In conclusion, congratulations to Dr Chow, Stardust volunteers and the Executive Committee of FHDA for organising a successful fund raising dinner, which will be served soon. May FHDA happily progress in its work as a Sexual and reproductive health and rights organisation!

With this wand, I hereby have much pleasure to launch the video about FHDA’s journey in community HIV programme.

Thank you.