HRH Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway (centre), flanked by Women, Family and Community Development Deputy Minister Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun (left) and Malaysian AIDS Foundation Chairman Professor Dr. Adeeba Kamarulzaman (right) speaks to members of the press present during her visit to a shelter home for children living with HIV, on Wednesday 29 May 2013, in Kuala Lumpur. Photo credit: Malaysian AIDS Council.

KUALA LUMPUR, 29 May 2013 – UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador, Her Royal Highness Princess Mette-Marit of Norway visited the shelter home for children and women affected by HIV located in the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur today.

During her visit, Crown Princess Mette-Marit was met by the Chairman of the Malaysian AIDS Foundation, Professor Dr. Adeeba Kamarulzaman who took her on a guided tour of the shelter facility and briefed her about the response of Malaysian civil societies to the HIV and AIDS epidemic.

“Malaysian AIDS Council is deeply touched by Her Royal Highness’ show of solidarity with the plight of People Living With HIV. Her presence today sends a strong massage about the need to fight HIV and AIDS-related stigma and discrimination,” remarked Professor Adeeba.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit then spent some time entertaining the shelter home residences, comprising 15 children and six single mothers. She took part in the children face-painting session and talked with the children and women
over afternoon tea.

Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Matte-Marit of Norway has served as Goodwill Ambassador for the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) since October 2006. The Crown Princess has an extensive international network in the HIV/AIDS sphere, and has assisted UNAIDS in its strategic activities to involve local youth organisations around the world in combatting the spread of the epidemic.

Shelter care by MAC provides Malaysians living with HIV, particularly those who are bereft of family care and support, with a residential setting conducive for emotional and physical well-being and development. In 2012, a total of 620 people living with or made vulnerable by HIV benefitted from services delivered through these shelters, including nursing and palliative care, medical referrals, treatment literacy and adherence programmes, as well as emotional and spiritual counseling. The day to day operation of shelter homes under MAC are fully funded by the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development Malaysia (KPWKM) under the 1AZAM initiative.

HRH Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway engages in a lively conversation with children of a shelter home run by Women and Health Association of Kuala Lumpur, a Partner Organisation of the Malaysian AIDS Council, on Wednesday 29 May 2013, in Kuala Lumpur. Her visit to the shelter home coincides with the 3rd Women Deliver Global Conference held 28-30 May 2013 here. Photo credit: Malaysian AIDS Council.