How did you get into working with the Malaysian AIDS Foundation?
My AIDS activism didn’t happen overnight. I was drawn to this path when one of my best friends was diagnosed with HIV. That was 10 years ago. Back then, I was naive and confused about the implications of his health condition, but I also knew that I had to do something about it. I wanted to stand by him and be there during his rough patch and ordeal. Due to my lack of understanding about AIDS, I genuinely believed that he was living on borrowed time and I was going to lose my best friend at any moment.
So I tagged along to all the doctor's appointments, counselling sessions, support group meetings and all. This led to my chance encounter with Professor Dato' Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman, who was then the Infectious Disease Specialist who attended to my friend. I became fascinated and impressed by the good work carried out by the Malaysian AIDS Foundation and Malaysian AIDS Council and decided to sign up as a volunteer. Day by day, I developed greater passion, compassion and commitment towards the cause. That was when I decided my calling would be to help the underprivileged people living with HIV. I became a full-time employee in 2009 and has never looked back since.
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Due to my lack of understanding about AIDS, I genuinely believed that he was living on borrowed time and I was going to lose my best friend at any moment.