Audrey Edwards
Nation

p. N24.

Mak Nyah scheme gets UN boost

TORONTO — They have been relying on donations since their international funding stopped two years ago and those behind the PT Foundation's Mak Nyah programme had thought about stopping it.

But being a finalist for the Red Ribbon Award from a United Nations body has spurred them to continue their work.

"It gives us more reason not to close the programme. If we did, it would be a loss to the community," said programme coordinator Sulastri Ariffin, at the recently concluded 16th International AIDS Conference here.

"We are a place where the mak nyah can come to and feel secure. It is important to help them, especially in preventive care."

Sulastri said the programme — one of six under the foundation — had had to cut back on staff and rely on donations to continue its activities.

The programme reaches out to the community, and works in HIV/AIDS prevention, counselling and raising awareness. It also provides information and educational talks to the public to reduce stigma and discrimination.

Started 13 years ago, the transgender and transsexual programme was among the 25 finalists shortlisted from 500 applications worldwide under the inaugural award organised by the United Nations Development Programme with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS.

It was recognised for its work in empowering transgender and transsexual people and fostering a supportive and informed community.

The citation also stated that the foundation worked through the Islamic culture and tradition to fight discrimination by having community alliances. The programme will receive US$5,000 (RM18,000) on Dec 1, which is World AIDS Day.

Roslan Hamzah, coordinator of the foundation's Positive Living programme, said his involvement with the Mak Nyah programme was to be a role model to those who were HIV-positive.

According to him, he wanted to show them that if he could learn to live with the disease, they could also do so.

"Thirteen years ago, I was suicidal and depressed after being diagnosed with HIV. I was thrown out of my room by my landlord and my family didn't want to talk to me," he said.

"But I found a similar programme and realised that life does go on. And now, I want to show others that it's not the end of the world."

He added that the programme also worked with the Religious Department, adding that it had taken about 10 years to change the perception of the mak nyah community among the public.