KUALA LUMPUR: Dr Zaiton Yahaya remembers vividly the day she came to know a mother of three who was desperate for help about 11 years ago.
The woman, who had tested positive for HIV, was devastated. She had just lost her husband.
“You are the only hope, please do something for us,” Dr Zaiton recalled the plea from the patient, whom she had attended to at the Sandakan government hospital in Sabah in 2008.
“It drew mixed feelings. From the tone of her voice, I felt the agony and misery that the woman was going through.
“As if she had lost all hope. That was the turning point in my life,” she told reporters.
Moved by the plea of the woman and frustrated over not being able to do more to help her patients, Dr Zaiton started a non-governmental organisation to create awareness and help people suffering from HIV and AIDS the same year.
Fast forward, Dr Zaiton, who is the founder of Sabah AIDS Awareness Group Association (Saga) was named the winner of the Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Award for her noble efforts.
The family medicine specialist at Sandakan health clinic accepted the award at the Malaysian AIDS Foundation-Berjaya Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Award gala night dinner, here, last night.
Dr Zaiton received a trophy, certificate of excellence, Omega watch and RM20,000.
She received the award from Malaysian AIDS Foundation patron Datin Marina Mahathir.
Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye, Berjaya Corporation Bhd executive chairman Tan Sri Vincent Tan and Malaysian AIDS Foundation chairman Prof Datuk Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman were present.
Dr Zaiton was one of the seven finalists shortlisted by a panel of seven judges comprising entrepreneurs and representatives from the corporate sector and government agencies.
She said more had to done to raise awareness on HIV and AIDS in Sabah.
She said generally people were still ignorant about the virus.
“Compounding the situation is the prejudice against those suffering from HIV and AIDS, which creates fear among the people (which discourages them from) getting health screening and treatment.
“That is why we need to raise awareness and reach out to more people on HIV and AIDS.
“Poverty is another thing that we need to address.
“Currently, free HIV treatment is only available at government health clinics and hospitals in locations such as Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan.
“This is where SHAPE (Sabah Health Access Programme) came in.
“We provide travel allowance to rural folk to get treatment at our clinic,” she said.
She said her biggest challenge was to ensure that her patients returned for follow-up treatment.
“Most of our patients are not sure about the disease and the importance of the treatment to lengthen their lives.
“Although there is no cure for HIV or AIDS yet, the treatment can help to increase their white blood CD4 cells and reduce their virus loads.
“In some cases, we do chase after our patients if they do not turn up at the clinic for their next consultation,” she said.
Since the inception of SHAPE, Dr Zaiton said, there had been improvement in treatment and medication compliance among patients.
Under SHAPE, beneficiaries receive cash allowances of up to RM150 per hospital visit and benefit from peer-led support groups, workshops and counselling facilitated by Saga.
The project has not only saved the lives of HIV patients, but also those with other chronic illnesses such as renal failure, thalassemia, coronary complications and haemophilia.
“My future plan is to expand the programme outside Sandakan, to Tawau, Kunak, Lahad Datu and further,” she said.
Dr Zaiton dedicated her award to the people of Sabah and added that this was just the beginning.
“Previously, people threw away the red ribbon, a symbol for AIDS awareness, when they received it because they said they were not affected.
“Things have changed for the better after 11 years.
“More people are supporting the cause.
“They encourage people (infected by HIV) to get treatment.
“There is also a change in perception of people with HIV, which is a good sign in creating a caring community.”
KEYWORDS: Dr Zaiton Yahaya, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Award, Malaysian AIDS Foundation, Berjaya Corporation Bhd