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| We need to work together to meet the challenges
of HIV/AIDS. Only by WORKING TOGETHER can we hope to Lead the
Way to a World; (and our country) Without HIV/AIDS. |
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| The 21 doves represent 21 years since the
first case of HIV was reported in Malaysia. We have come a long
way. We now have more than 76, 389 cases of HIV/AIDS. As of
December 2006, 9,155 have since died from AIDS. |
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- We remember them as our fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters,
friends, relatives and Malaysians who have passed on from
AIDS
- We remember the impact of world wide fear of the disease
in the early days of the epidemic. The lack of accurate
information on HIV/AIDS made it a challenge for all concerned
in dealing with those infected with the virus.
- We remember the fear, the isolation fueled by ignorance
that causes stigma and discrimination.
- We remember the despair of PLWHAs due to the lack of treatment
knowledge and options. It was perceived as imminent death.
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| With the release of the doves: |
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| We also remember that we have all worked
hard and continue to work to make a difference in HIV/AIDS prevention,
treatment, care and support since then. Now we are looking forward
to new beginnings... |
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| We now see a real reduction of cost of
treatment and more people than ever before on treatment. There
is more affordable access to clinical care through the public
health system, including free or subsidized access to ARV (HAART).
HAART stands for Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy and it
is the current treatment for HIV positive people which helps
to promote and prolong a healthier life. |
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| Children and young people who are HIV positive
are living longer and planning higher education, employment
and soon possibly having families. |
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| We now have the National Strategic Plan
to provide a collective road map to meet the HIV/AIDS challenges
together. This reflects a proimising t commitment by the government. |
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| Most of all, the release of the doves is
a release by all of us of the past and a way to look forward
TOGETHER to becoming the face of the HIV epidemic and meeting
the challenges of the epidemic TOGETHER. The release of the
21 doves by 21 people also represents the need to have all sectors
of the civil society to work together. No one can manage this
alone. So let us unite and resolve that HIV/AIDS is our challenge
- in prevention, treatment, care and support. |
