Khoo S; International Conference on AIDS.

Int Conf AIDS. 2002 Jul 7-12; 14: abstract no. F12359.

Kuala Lumpur AIDS Support Services Society, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

ISSUES: With the increasing number of HIV-infected individuals in Malaysia, the need for community-based support services is increasingly being felt. Kuala Lumpur has a large and heterogeneous cohort of HIV-infected persons. Support services, thus has to be tailored to meet the different needs of these communities. KLASS Society was, thus set up to meet the needs of those who are affected and infected with HIV/AIDS in the Klang valley. One of the programs carried out by the KLASS Society is its cell support group for PLWHAs who speaks Chinese. DESCRIPTION: KLASS collaborates with the doctors treating PLWHAs at the Kuala Lumpur and University Hospital in informing them of the cell support groups available and how to join such groups. As some of the cell support group meetings are held at the hospital clinic itself, the PLWHAs are rather comfortable to attend these meetings. Each cell support group consist of maximum six people meets regularly on a monthly basis. PLWHAs themselves are empowered to facilitate and lead the group with the guidance from KLASS. Agendas for groups are suggested by the PLWHAs and meetings held thus far include: Sharing sessions among PLWHAs, Sharing experiences with a reporter of which the article appeared on WAD 2001, Watching videos of PLWHAs of other countries, Sharing session with a doctor, Holiday retreats and Visits to PLWHAs where requests were made. LESSONS LEARNED: PLWHAs will not feel alone in confronting with this disease and that they have friends with whom they could share. PLWHAs belonging to support groups will find themselves acceptable and comfortable with their peer group. They will be empowered to voice out among themselves of the issues of HIV/AIDS pertaining to them. RECOMMENDATIONS: Doctors treating PLWHAs should inform the support groups available and how to join such groups. To collaborate with doctors of all hospitals who treats PLWHAs to assist in establishing support groups for their patients.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Counseling
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• Health Services
• Health Services Needs and Demand
• Humans
• Malaysia
• Research
• Self-Help Groups
• Societies
• organization & administration

Other ID:

• GWAIDS0014578

UI: 102252076

From Meeting Abstracts