Truth about drugs, HIV, AIDS

Anthony SB Thanasayan

Anthony SB Thanasayan is a wheelchair user who is powered by his service dogs who help him stay on top of life. He is president of Malaysia's first and only animal-assisted therapy society called Petpositive.

Anthony SB Thanasayan

Published: 5 January 2015

 

As we get going into a brand new week of another squeaky clean new year, I thought I'd focus our attention on HIV and AIDS.
Especially, on some of the myths surrounding the disease and persons living with HIV (PLHIV) and AIDS. It's high time we got rid of them, folks!  
 

Recently, I spoke with Raymond Tai, marketing and communications director at PT Foundation. I asked him to tell me more.

HIV is commonly spread among drug users when they share contaminated needles, or by irresponsible sex. Both drugs and sex are considered bad habits and immoral in our society. So the general feeling is that PLHIV have only brought on God’s punishment on themselves.
 

"Illicit drugs are not only listed as an enemy of the state in Malaysia but drug addicts are portrayed as scum and parasites of society," Tai said.
 

"It's no different with the media when drug users or ‘drug addicts’ are viewed as an eyesore in society. They are seen as litterbugs and troublemakers in their families and neighbourhoods.
 

"They steal to support their habits and don't hesitate to rob, assault, injure or even kill to get what they want," added Tai.
 

He went on to say that while some of it were true, Tai argues that they should be seen as "symptoms of a deeper problem within society".
 

For example, how does one become a drug addict? What triggers a child or teenager to get involved in drugs? Why does drug addiction affect certain segments of society more than others?
 

Tai said even the rich are not spared. He knows of a case where the eldest in the family became addicted to drugs, contracted HIV, and eventually died. The younger siblings went on to become very successful individuals.
 

It's important to remember that “drug addicts” are essentially that – people who are dependent on drugs.
 

However, it's a complex disease. And quitting takes more than good intentions or a strong will, according to Tai.
 

In fact, because drugs change the brain in ways that foster compulsive drug abuse, quitting is difficult, even for those who are ready to do so.
 

"Drug addiction is a brain disease. Although initial drug use might be voluntary, abused drugs have been shown to alter gene expression and brain circuitry, which, in turn, affect human behaviour.
 

"Once addiction develops, these brain changes interfere with an individual’s ability to make voluntary decisions, leading to compulsive drug craving, seeking and use."
 

And it is these compulsive drug cravings which trigger erratic action, including sharing contaminated needles. It is a highly risky and infectious method in acquiring HIV and other diseases.
 

Drug users who are HIV positive need medical assistance such as methadone maintenance therapy and psycho-social counselling.
 

Family and friends' support is equally important after treatment.
 

Another common myth is it is better to let drug addicts die of AIDS because they eventually fall back to drugs.
 

"This is factually wrong," Tai vehemently argued.
 

"Many countries have had much success in treating drug dependents.
 

"The first step is recognising that while the cause of consuming illegal drugs is a social problem, drug addiction is a medical problem.
 

"In Malaysia, three decades of fighting drug addiction by criminalising it with imprisonment and mandatory cold turkey rehabilitation have failed to eliminate illicit drugs let alone reduce it."
 

On the contrary, the menace had fuelled another epidemic – at its peak, 22% of drug addicts also contracted HIV through not only infecting other drug users, but by infecting their spouses.
 

Worse, the virus was passed on from pregnant mothers to their newly born children.
 

Tai said in 2006, the Health Ministry and the National Anti-Drugs Agency embarked on the twin programmes of implementing the needle and syringe exchange programme and the national methadone maintenance therapy programme (MMT).
 

As a result, new cases of HIV infection among drug users were halved.
 

Drug addicts who voluntarily registered for the MMT no longer were addicted to harmful drugs like heroin. Many were able to get jobs and were reunited with their families and spouses.
 

Drug users, who are HIV positive and have managed to control their addiction problems, receive highly active anti-retroviral treatment which in turn keeps the HIV infection controlled to the point of becoming undetectable for HIV.
 

A softer and more compassionate approach, meanwhile, has shown strong evidence that drug addicts can become productive members of society.
 

With support from the family and the community, they are part of the solution to strengthen the family unit and the community.
The cost to treat them is also outweighed as a result.
 

"Finally, HIV does not recognise boundaries. If PLHIV are not provided effective prevention tools and treatment, they will infect their partners, spouses and possibly even their future children.
 

"We have seen how this tragedy has unfolded in many African states – leading even to national economic collapse." – January 5, 2015.
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/opinion/anthony-sb-thanasayan/article/truth-about-drugs-hiv-aids#sthash.xUGD5B8a.dpuf

Disabled, animals need help during floods, too

Anthony SB Thanasayan

Anthony SB Thanasayan is a wheelchair user who is powered by his service dogs who help him stay on top of life. He is president of Malaysia's first and only animal-assisted therapy society called Petpositive.

Anthony SB Thanasayan

Published: 29 December 2014

 

News of the monsoon floods, last week, completely ruined my Christmas mood and celebration.
 

Although I had decided to have a quiet one at home with my dogs and listening to carols on the Internet, I simply couldn't concentrate.
 

By Boxing Day on Friday, the number of people displaced by floods in Kelantan, Terrenganu, Pahang and Perak, rose to a staggering 103,413. It was up by more than 9,000 from the previous night.

And, it is still pouring copious amounts of rain outside, as I write this article. In addition to everything one has to consider about in a tragic flood situation, I couldn't help thinking about two main things: the handicapped, as well as animals caught in the predicament.
 

How were the disabled and the elderly coping? Are they on the "Priority List" in rescue missions' preparation, evacuation and follow-up programmes?
 

Or are they overlooked?
 

Do the village heads or local councils have a list of their names and where to locate them? The handicapped are the ones who need immediate assistance from life-threatening floods.
 

Neighbours can play a key role in this. If they know of a disabled person in the neighbourhood, they should move in quickly to get them out to safety.
 

Rescuers need to get into their homes and even rooms to find them. Wheelchairs are no good in water. So they will need to be physically carried.
 

Better for a trained rescuer to carry individuals. If unsure, ask the handicapped person the proper way to be carried. This is to ensure that no damage is done to their bodies during the rescue process.
Keep wheelchairs available in rescue shelters. Walking sticks, and other aids, should all be regarded with equal importance as wheelchairs.
 

 In moments of a crisis like this, it is important to help victims feel still "in control" of a situation by providing these aids, rather than making them more dependent on others without them.
 

Besides, rescuers can't be with them all the time, as there are others needing help, too.
 

The blind, living alone, are just as vulnerable. Rescuers should call out loudly to them. If they happen to know their names, call out to them.
 

The deaf, on the other hand, are unable to hear any sounds of danger to alert them. By the time they do, it is often too late.
 

So the authorities should take this into account by going the extra mile when searching for the disabled. It would also only make good sense to train staff, with a basic knowledge of sign language, which would be a great advantage.
 

Persons on medications with life-threatening diseases also need special attention. It's important to take them along with you during the rescue.
 

This will be helpful afterwards in the shelter, as their stay could last days and weeks before the crisis is over. Persons on medication are advised to keep their medicines in a water-proof handy bag in event of emergencies.
 

I mentioned animals as my second area of concern.
 

I was thrilled to see some news reports of cats being rescued by our brilliant boys and girls who sacrificed their lives to help the victims of the flooding.
 

However, at the time of writing this, I never saw any pictures of dogs being rescued. Though I have no doubt, that canine owners would have done the same things with their pets in the crisis.
 

If there isn't one now, then it's a plain shame.
 

But I certainly hope that once this flooding problem is over at least, our country will make a serious effort to have a special team to rescue cats and dogs whenever there is a crisis of any kind.
 

I can think of no better reason than to say it's because we are caring Malaysians that we should do this.
 

The "Malaysian Animal Rescue Disaster Team" should be set up by the Department of Veterinary Services, along with the respective 151 local councils throughout the nation.
 

It should be run with utmost professionalism and funded by both the local councils, as well as the federal authority. 
 

And, as for persons with disabilities and the elderly, there is no more excuse now for not getting dead serious about including the participation of persons with disabilities themselves in disaster management planning, awareness and training of emergency response, of all staff to their special needs. – December 29, 2014.
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/opinion/anthony-sb-thanasayan/article/disabled-animals-need-help-during-floods-too#sthash.4YOPCvIM.dpuf

Surrounded by Santas and Santarinas

Anthony SB Thanasayan

Anthony SB Thanasayan is a wheelchair user who is powered by his service dogs who help him stay on top of life. He is president of Malaysia's first and only animal-assisted therapy society called Petpositive.

Anthony SB Thanasayan

Published: 22 December 2014

 

It’s finally Christmas again this week, folks!
 

Each year, I make it a point during this time to visit at least one shopping centre in the city. This is so that I can take in the mood and atmosphere of the season going around everywhere in order to make my Christmas complete.
 

Even though it's mostly to window shop, checking out shopping complexes has become a personal "traditional must" over the years.

And it has to be done before Xmas eve in order to make everything right. 

 

Last Wednesday was supposed to be THE DAY.
 

I had picked out Mid Valley Megamall in Kuala Lumpur this time as my choice.
 

When you think about it, it's not really hard to see why.
 

They have the most exemplary Santa Clauses, in my opinion.
 

And best of all, they are available all around the year – not just during Xmas.
 

Mid Valley is the only shopping centre that I'm aware of which provides assistance for wheelchair customers – right from the car park.
 

All you have to do is to drive over to their designated disabled friendly underground car park area and honk.
 

If you are lucky, you will be greeted by a great big Santarina, with an even bigger smile to help you park your car.
 

She is one of the security Santarinas and Santas in the mall to open the barrier chains meant to keep able bodied drivers' cars out and allow vehicles with wheelchair logos in.
 

Next, you have to ring the Customer Service Santas (or again, Santarinas) from your mobile phone.
 

And, they will be down with you in a jiffy with your "sleigh" (wheelchair or "Power Shopper") – courtesy from the mall. A Power Shopper is an electric scooter-like, small vehicle – like an electric wheelchair – that helps a disabled shopper to move around in the mall.
 

No need to rush getting yourselves out of the car and into the wheelchairs and Power Shoppers!
 

These Saint Nicholas have loads of patience and smiles with them. They will not only take you to where you want to go, but will return anytime if you are facing any difficulty. 

 

Just ring them again anytime, and certainly when you need to get back to your car.
 

The only thing lacking in their Xmas goodies is that Mid Valley Megamall does not give free parking for disabled drivers.
 

I've suggested this to the management on a few occasions.
Let's hope they play an even bigger Father Christmas and make this wish come true. Every help given to disabled persons will go a long way to making our lives better.
 

Back to my main story now.
 

At the last minute, I wasn't able to make my trip as scheduled to Mid Valley because things suddenly went wrong at home that morning.
 

My three-year old service canine Zhar, my Dobermann, had the runs during the previous night. Because it persisted, I had no choice but to abruptly change my plans for the day.
 

I was a little under the weather myself, to be honest, and could feel an insidious infection coming along.
 

For a dog that takes care of me every day by picking up things and carrying them for me with his mouth – from keys, drinking bottles, TV remote, mobile phone and more – I had no heart to leave him at home by himself.
 

Suddenly, our roles were reversed. For once, with me in my wheelchair, I found myself being his caregiver for the day.
Despite feeling exhausted by the diarrhoea, my Dobermann kept insisting on helping me as usual.
 

My personal Santa on all fours would rush forward to help me pick things up. However, I could see that he didn't understand why he couldn't do it as quickly and energetically as before.
 

But there was a line of other Saint Nicholases to help me along.
 

A friend, whom I shall call "St Michael" who traditionally gives me Christmas lunches each year, was scheduled to meet me that day at noon. I called him hours before our meeting to cancel our appointment.

 

Seeing that he was a very busy businessman, and it being the end of the year and all, I thought that he might be annoyed that my cancellation at the last minute might upset his other plans.
 

He wasn't. 

 

Instead he not only totally understood my situation, but promised to reschedule it again before Xmas.
 

Another appointment during tea time on the same day also had to go. It was a first-time appointment with a woman animal activist.
"I understand completely; get well soon to your doggie and you," she responded in her Short Messaging Service (SMS) within minutes of my message to her.
 

She even went further to enquire the next day about how Zhar and I were doing.
 

My medical doctor – as well as Zhar's veterinarian – also played "Ho Ho Ho Santas" when I needed them most.
 

They kept close contact with me to make sure that man and canine were doing fine. 

 

They armed us with the right professional advice and medication to not only fight off our respective bugs, but also to prevent them from bouncing back.
 

My best able-bodied pal, Andrew Martin, was next at my door with a mop and some cleaning stuff to perform the basics.
 

With so many real life Saint Nicholases around and in my home, Zhar and I don't have to worry about not having the perfect Xmas this week.
 

And I wish you all the same, too. – December 22, 2014.
 

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/opinion/anthony-sb-thanasayan/article/surrounded-by-santas-and-santarinas#sthash.P7KcdNdX.dpuf

Making sense of our disabled-friendly facilities

Anthony SB Thanasayan

Anthony SB Thanasayan is a wheelchair user who is powered by his service dogs who help him stay on top of life. He is president of Malaysia's first and only animal-assisted therapy society called Petpositive.

Anthony SB Thanasayan

Published: 15 December 2014

 

It's encouraging to see wheelchair logos and disabled-friendly facilities slowly popping up in various places in our towns and cities across the nation.
 

However, if for one minute you think that all is well for the disabled after this - I'm sorry to say that you are sadly mistaken. Because getting to one of them, and trying to use the so-called "conveniences", usually ends up into another story! Particularly, for those with wheelchairs and walking sticks.
 

These problems happen because the issue is not only about providing reserved car parks, special ramps, and others for wheelchair users.

More importantly, it is about putting in plenty of thought and planning beforehand into ensuring that these special facilities are truly convenient and fully functional for those who need them.  

Take, for instance, what happened a couple of days ago to Antony Leopold.
 

The 62-year old, who works as a travel agent in Kuala Lumpur, went to meet a client.
 

The meeting venue was at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang. Both are wheelchair users.
 

Leopold, who had poliomyelitis when he was a child, had to drive himself to the airport alone. He couldn't get anyone to accompany him that day.
 

(Leopold uses a pair of callipers - a special walking aid with metal rods and shoes, strapped on both of his legs for support. He also uses two metal walking sticks for both of his hands for balance.)
 

At KLIA's departure hall area, he found more than a dozen reserved car park slots (all empty) for disabled drivers. But alas, they were all blocked by parking barriers!
 

"I had a tough time removing the barriers myself," Leopold lamented to me.
 

"I had to shift and lock my callipers into action. When I was on my feet, I grabbed my walking sticks and had to perform an incredible balancing act stunt to push away the barriers, before getting into my car again to park it.
 

"For people in wheelchairs and unable to walk at all, it would have been impossible to park there," he explained.
 

Leopold pointed out that even though there was an uninterrupted flow of passengers and visitors streaming in and out of the automatic door nearby, no one offered to help him.
 

Not even any of the able-bodied uniformed staff who were walking around.
 

Inside, Leopold faced further obstacles.
 

Realising that it would take a long walk to the meeting point where his friend was waiting, he requested for a wheelchair.
 

Instead of getting the wheelchair for Leopold, the staff pointed him to the direction of another information desk, where the wheelchairs were located.
 

He had to make another long and painstaking walk to the wheelchair counter.
 

Leopold's meeting proper with his friend took only five minutes in the end. However, he had to spend nearly an hour going through his ordeal in KLIA.
 

He had to avoid a couple of walkalators in the process. They were much too dangerous for people like him - as well as the blind - because they could lose their balance and fall when using walkalators.
 

Uncaring non-disabled passengers was another problem.
 

They simply refused to give up the "resting benches" even for a minute despite seeing Leopold struggling to catch his breath in exhaustion.
 

"The least they could have done was to removed their luggage on the seats to let me sit down for a bit," Leopold said.
 

The by now fatigued travel agent, who is married and has three children, was even refused help when he asked one of the staff to accompany him to his car for some assistance when he was leaving.
"Sorry sir, we are too busy right now and your request is not part of our job description," they told him.
 

With more than 25-years experience in the travel industry, Leopold has the following advice for KLIA to consider with regards to disabled and elderly passengers:

• Have a dedicated counter for disabled and elderly passengers. They should be able to access it the moment they arrive (and not somewhere deep inside the airport which requires lengthy walks).
• The special desk should be manned by trained personnel who can assist passengers and visitors with all types of disabilities: wheelchair users, the visually impaired, deaf persons and others.
• Wheelchairs should be promptly provided to the physically disabled or anyone with walking disabilities - including the elderly. Further assistance, like help in pushing their wheelchairs and others should also be provided - if asked - more so for persons who are alone and without help.
• Wheelchair logos should be clearly marked and placed as stand-up signboards. Markings on the ground, as is the practice in KLIA, is ineffective by itself. Failing to do so is also a contributory factor to disabled parking spots being abused by the able-bodied.
• In the inner lanes of both the arrival and departure halls, there must be at least two or three disabled parking available as they genuinely require it. Currently only VIP vehicles, taxis, limousines and vehicles with special permits are allowed.
• Please sensitise the police present at KLIA to the special needs of disabled persons as they keep chasing disabled drivers away who need help. – December 15, 2014.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/opinion/anthony-sb-thanasayan/article/making-sense-of-our-disabled-friendly-facilities#sthash.SftyMcxh.dpuf

Disability, a ‘death penalty’ after 50

Anthony SB Thanasayan

Anthony SB Thanasayan is a wheelchair user who is powered by his service dogs who help him stay on top of life. He is president of Malaysia's first and only animal-assisted therapy society called Petpositive.

Anthony SB Thanasayan

Published: 8 December 2014

 

I had a wonderful time last Wednesday. It was International Day of Persons with Disabilities or IDPD.

The first IDPD was announced in 1992 by the United Nations.
Now, nearly quarter of a century later, there are more than one billion disabled people in the world. 

 

This makes persons like me and others officially the largest minority group the world over.

According to statistics by the UN, the majority of us live in developing countries, which we are a part of. 

 

As a person born with a disability - and having successfully made it to 53 years of age last month - my work in advocating for the rights and welfare of disabled people over all the years have showed me one most important thing.
 

And that is, the best way to change the world for the handicapped is through sensitising the non-disabled public about what persons with disabilities have to go through every day of our lives.
 

This is especially so because the disabled live in a society which, largely and frankly, was not built with our special needs and rights in mind.
 

Raising awareness was exactly what I found myself doing on the morning of IDPD.
 

My day started with a live phone-in interview on TRAXXfm.
The station's presenters Roundhead and Mary rang me up on my mobile phone at a quarter past 9am. 

 

I could picture listeners at home, and on the roads, driving in their cars and listening in to us.
 

Our chat, around five minutes or so, was also followed on Twitter and Facebook.
 

I tried to cover as many issues as I could, with the golden opportunity that I had in my hands, to speak to the nation within the short time span.
 

We spoke on technology for the disabled in helping to give them an improved quality of life, which is this year's IDPD theme.
 

I lamented about the fact that most of my wheelchair friends still had no access to computers.
 

"It is sad that IT fairs still focused more on the able-bodied than people with disabilities," I said, as the deejays listened intently and nodded.
 

"Internet service providers should also stop being selfish by giving discounts to disabled subscribers - only to limit their use afterwards, compared to features which are plentifully available to non disabled users," I added.
 

TRAXXfm also asked me about the thorny subject of non-disabled drivers abusing disabled car parks.
 

It was a great chance to remind everyone to never use a disabled car park, unless they are handicapped.
 

"Even a minute or two taken up by an able-bodied driver is hell for the disabled driver, who may never find a parking spot again.
 

"We would like to think that Malaysians are a 'caring lot'. However, the truth of the matter is, the moment we get into our cars, we forget everything and everyone. It's each man for his own, after that."
 

On the bright side, it is good to see members of the public taking positive steps to post pictures of the offending vehicles with their number plates on social media to shame them.
 

One US disabled activist wrote on my Facebook that when such a thing happens in her country, the drivers usually have their cars promptly towed away and slapped with a hefty fine.
 

"If that doesn't happen, they may very well find their tyres 'mysteriously' deflated," she wrote.
 

After the interview, I had to rush over to give another talk on IDPD in Kuala Lumpur that very day. 

 

But not before getting my best able-bodied pal, Andrew Martin, to pop by over to my house a couple of hours before the event to help me get dressed for the occasion.
 

First in the bathroom, and then to wear my pants and shirt. The task was completed with my socks and shoes.
 

At times like these, I wish our government would provide us with "personal attendant care" workers like they do in overseas countries.
 

It is also catching on here in Asia.
 

Even international agencies like the World Health Organisation has urged developing countries to get their act together in providing such a service in preparation with the numbers of elderly persons growing at an alarming pace.
 

Personal attendants are paid by the government to assist the disabled in daily living chores in the house. They will help cook your meals for you, give you a bath, and even wash your clothes, if you are unable to do it for yourself.
 

And there is no charge for this.
 

When I brought this up directly to a welfare minister (who is no longer there now), she just laughed it off and reminded me that "Malaysia is not a welfare state". 

 

She said it in a disapproving tone, sounding almost disgusted with the idea.
 

It's easy for her to talk because she is able-bodied.
 

She is not caught in the same predicament as that of the increasing numbers of physically disabled Malaysians who are ageing, and have no one to turn to for help.
 

For them, more so for those from poor backgrounds, it is an unimaginable nightmare when their parents pass on, and there is no one left to look after them.
 

The Welfare Department is currently looking into such paid caregivers for NGOs for the disabled.
 

But they told me they have not started yet to look into the needs of individuals who live on their own or with their families.
 

Until then, living above the age of 50, will be a virtual "death penalty" for everyone, as experts warn all of us will have a disability or two when we grow older.
 

So, I guess the answer is: "Let's all stop growing older!" – December 8, 2014.
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/opinion/anthony-sb-thanasayan/article/disability-a-death-penalty-after-50#sthash.WgXtxmEU.dpuf

How far fight against AIDS has come

Anthony SB Thanasayan

Anthony SB Thanasayan is a wheelchair user who is powered by his service dogs who help him stay on top of life. He is president of Malaysia's first and only animal-assisted therapy society called Petpositive.

Anthony SB Thanasayan

Published: 1 December 2014

 

Today, December 1, is World AIDS Day.
The worldwide theme this year is focusing on how to achieve an "AIDS-free generation".
 

According to a recent report on the Voice Of America (VOA) broadcast, the United Nations predicts that if prevention and treatment services are scaled up, the epidemic will no longer be a global threat in 15 years.

However, if the goals are not met, the pandemic could worsen, warns the UN. The Washington-based international radio broadcaster went on to point out that in 1984, there were no drugs targeting HIV and AIDS.
 

Today, however, more than 30 are available.
 

Speaking on VOA, Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, described the progress in controlling HIV/AIDS as “extraordinary”.
 

He said if a 25-year-old man or woman, for example, was put on anti-retroviral drugs relatively early in the course of his infection – he could live an additional 50 years if he continued to use the drug.
 

The HIV/AIDS expert of more than three decades described this as "one of the most extraordinary accomplishments in biomedical research in translation", concluded the VOA report.
 

Meanwhile, while AIDS became known in the United States in the early 1980s, the first reported case in Malaysia was in 1986.
It was a year before Pink Triangle (PT) – now known as PT Foundation – started providing counselling and social support services for the gay community in the country.
 

I asked Raymond Tai, marketing and communications director of Pink Triangle Foundation, to describe what the situation was like then.
 

"The Internet was still very much in its infancy and a new thing with not a lot of data, especially on AIDS and HIV," he says.
 

"And the only way to get the right kind of information and support was to call up the counselling telephone line that was managed by the trained volunteers from PT.”
 

Tai went on to point out that although Pink Triangle was originally set up to address gender identity and sexual orientation, the onset of HIV/AIDS changed the agenda to also include providing much-needed information on the disease.
 

"Just as in America, there were a lot of paranoia and ignorance about AIDS here, too.
 

"Because it was seen initially as a gay disease, there was a lot of demonising of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons," says Tai, who has been working full time with PT Foundation since 2007 and has been volunteering there for more than 20 years.
 

"Today, things are better. People are not as ignorant about HIV/AIDS as they once were.
 

"The irrational fear from society is far less. For instance, there is no longer talk about our authorities wanting to send people with HIV or AIDS away to an island in order to isolate them.
 

"There are also more medical opportunities now to be treated for the condition where it is no longer seen as a death sentence leading to a painful death. Although there is still no cure, it is now more of a chronic illness with improved ways on how to treat it."
 

Tai says what is regrettable and negative is that there is now a state campaign to demonise LGBT, sex workers, drug users and other groups who are most vulnerable to HIV/AIDS.
 

"Many of them are vulnerable because of their lifestyles and need help because they do not have enough education on how to stay safe and not become a victim. This is the same for drug users and others who are in the high risk list in getting HIV/AIDS."
 

Because of this, this time, PT Foundation decided to take its education campaign this past weekend to more popular places such as KL Sentral and Nu Sentral in Kuala Lumpur.
 

It turned out to be a carnival mall event, which the organisers hailed as "a huge success".
 

"The public need to get tested. This is to know their status. If they have been infected, it is important to seek treatment at once so that they can have a normal life."
 

Tai cautions that for those who don't know they are positive and refuse to test themselves, it will only be a question of time before they develop AIDS.
 

And by waiting until then, it will be difficult to treat the disease.
HIV remains just as a virus inside the body. It will continue to multiply and ravage the body's immune system so that there is no way for it to protect itself from opportunistic infections that invade the body.
 

Some of these symptoms include pneumonia, tuberculosis and skin cancer.
 

The patient then becomes so sick that he or she will have to go to a hospital and only then discover that he has AIDS.
 

HIV and AIDS can vary from person to person from six months to more than 15 years – from the moment they contract the HIV virus to the time they develop full-blown AIDS.
 

Testing is important because during this time, infected persons can pass on the virus to sexual partners or through needles with partners.
 

"The PT Foundation is the only non-governmental organisation that provides community-based HIV testing and counselling. All testing are fully anonymous: no name or identity card number is required. Everything is strictly confidential and performed in a totally non-judgmental manner."
 

According to him, PT Foundation's service also provides a full follow-up service for those who test positive.
 

HIV-antigen tests, as well as syphilis tests, use rapid test kits with results produced within one hour. They are performed by volunteers and counsellors who are trained by doctors and professionals counsellors arranged by PT Foundation.
 

For information, contact Raymond Tai at:  

 

raymond@ptfmalaysia.org.
 

To find out what is happening for World AIDS Day, please visit here. – December 1, 2014.
 

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/opinion/anthony-sb-thanasayan/article/how-far-fight-against-aids-has-come#sthash.zdtALxFt.dpuf

Life begins at 54!

Anthony SB Thanasayan

Anthony SB Thanasayan is a wheelchair user who is powered by his service dogs who help him stay on top of life. He is president of Malaysia's first and only animal-assisted therapy society called Petpositive.

Anthony SB Thanasayan

Published: 24 November 2014

 

My idea of a perfect birthday celebration was what I did last Friday.
I spent some "quality time" with myself – at home – with those I love and the things that matter to me.
 

That was namely: spending long hours playing with my service dogs who are more than mere pets to me, ringing up a few close friends who support and share in my struggles and chatting with others on social media like Facebook and Twitter, which has become my latest pastime and favourite hobby.
Birthdays are very special occasions that should never be missed. This is true especially for me, considering the fact that my family was told by my doctors on the day of my birth that I wouldn't (chuckle) make it past my first birthday.
 

That was the prognosis given to my bewildered parents in the hospital after the medical team broke the news to them that I have spina bifida.
 

Spina bifida is a serious condition in which part of the spine is not fully developed at birth, leaving the nerves in the back without any protection.
 

Fortunately in my situation, however, there was a layer of skin covering the area in my back. When I was born it was only the size of a small pimple or marble.
 

Today, at 54 years of age, it has grown to half the size of a football.
Spina bifida also affected the control of my bladder and bowel movements. It's a condition I have learnt to accept and live with to this day.
 

So you would understand why I couldn't help feeling rather tickled over a story I read last week about an overseas man who became incontinent and was contemplating suicide because he thought it was the end of the world.
 

He wanted to end his life before he became incontinent. He said by doing so, he could call the shots rather than allow a disease to dictate life for him.
 

By the way, needless to say, most of the specialists who attended to me as a baby have already retired or died. I have clearly outlived them and proven them all wrong.
 

I started using a wheelchair at the age of 10. A children's bone specialist conducted surgery on my good leg which was giving me problems. But it only made things worse by making me permanently paralysed.
 

It was an operation that should never have been done. The doctor never admitted this but blamed it on my body instead. "Unfortunately your body failed to respond to my expert treatment," he said, giggling.
 

Believe it or not, he also told me that he would love to have my “legs completely cut off and put (me) in a flower pot”, adding that I “would look very nice”.
 

The hospital wasn't the only one who didn't want to accept responsibility for their actions.
 

The primary school where I was studying also didn't want a cripple in their institute of learning.
 

They gave the excuse that they didn't have a disabled friendly toilet for students in wheelchairs and I was forced to quit school.
 

From then on, it was one horrible episode after another. I spent most of my time at home doing practically nothing with myself until I was back in hospital in my 20s with a couple of nasty pressure sores that refused to heal for over two years.
 

Then my luck started to change in virtual leaps and bounds.
 

A wonderful foreign couple sponsored me to Singapore to have surgery in which my pressure sores were healed in two weeks.
A church pastor taught me to swim. Although it took me nearly a year to graduate from the babies' pool to the adults, the point is I finally made it.
 

An elderly kind lady taught me to play the piano – first, amazingly, via the telephone for weeks and months, until I went over for face-to-face lessons. (Transport was a major problem.)
 

A music specialist relative I had approached earlier laughed at me when I told her about my interest in learning the piano. She suggested that I be “less ambitious instead and try playing the recorder or folk guitar”.
 

However, my biggest achievement came when I took my first bus ride in my wheelchair in Eugene, Oregon in the US.
 

Then it was wheelchair water-skiing in the sea with a speeding motor boat and even white-water river rafting down a famous river!
These were all conducted by an organisation called Mobility International USA whose purpose was to inspire disabled persons all over the globe to challenge themselves first in order to challenge the world.
 

I returned home a much stronger disability activist than I was and began speaking up and writing about disabled rights and issues.
My US trip also inspired me to train service dogs to help me perform daily tasks such as opening doors, picking up objects from the ground and providing animal assisted therapy.
 

I depend on my three special canines, my Dobermann, German Shepherd dog and Shetland sheepdog, to provide such a service to me today.
 

As I spent my birthday last week blowing out the candles on my birthday cake and hugging and playing with my tail-wagging trio, how I wished that those doctors could see me now! – November 24, 2014.  

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/opinion/anthony-sb-thanasayan/article/life-begins-at-54#sthash.ZU3xi4nM.dpuf