E.R.A.S.E. with love

"Every action in our lives touches on some chord that will vibrate in eternity."

The first time I came across the words 'AIDS' and 'HIV' was when I took part in a science quiz in primary school, and learnt the full name of those two words - Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and Human Immunodeficiency Virus. HIV leads to AIDS, where a progressive failure of the human immune system occurs and develops life-threatening opportunistic infections.

I feel deeply sorry for the innocent HIV/AIDS patients who were genetically inherited with the disease. Besides having to bear with the reality of their immune system getting weaken by the viruses as days go by, the worst part is how they have to deal with the social stigma of the society around them. Instead of showering these ill people with love and words of encouragement, the society alienates and sets them apart from us, making these ill ones feel like they are different.

If there is one thing we could do, it would be to show our love and support for the people who are living with HIV or AIDS. The indifference of the society in caring for the people living with HIV/AIDS causes their will to live to wear away and makes them want to give up on life.  We should not run or hide when someone needs somebody. By getting to know the illness, we will realize the faults of the social stigma. Offering a hug to the people living with HIV/AIDS is NOT contagious, but instead it brings hope and acceptance to them. Togetherness brings hope, and hope gives them the strength to go on when it feels like nothing else works. We can bring a change to erase stigma and discrimination to HIV/AIDS.

World Aids Day falls on the 1st December of every year. This year, the Medical Society of the University of Malaya, together with Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC) will be celebrating World AIDS Day on the 1st and 2nd of December 2012. The event 'E.R.A.S.E.' envisioned to eradicate stigma against people living with HIV/AIDS, and to educate the society and create awareness on HIV/AIDS. Do check out their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ERASEAIDS

WHAT CAN I DO?
The organizers have came out with postcards to raise fund for Malaysian AIDS Council in funding the aids given to people living with HIV/AIDS. A minimum donation of RM 10 will be collected for a set of 4 postcards, and if some of us could not afford the whole set, we could donate RM 3 for 1 postcard. The postcards also act as inspiration and support to those people, where the donors will write down their words of encouragement on the postcards, which will then be collected and sent back to the Malaysian AIDS Council and viewed by the HIV/AIDS patients in need of love and support.

If you guys are interested, do get the postcards from me or Yean See by this Friday, as we will be volunteering for the event on this coming Saturday and Sunday. And if you guys would like to volunteer as well, feel free to sign up on their facebook page and join us this weekend.

I sincerely hope that we as Team IX Members can each do a small part in contributing to this good cause. =)

"Act as if you do make a difference. Because it really does."

Sincerely,
Yvonne.