16 December 2023
By ~ Dr Theyveeka Selvy Rajoo

Activities Of IWC Parklands During World AIDS Day 2023


World AIDS Day is one of the most important awareness days related to our health. World AIDS Day is one of the eight official global health campaigns marked by the World Health Organization (WHO); it is commemorated on 1 December, each year. People around the world unite to show support for people living with HIV and to remember those who have died from AIDS-related illnesses. It is an opportunity for the whole world to unite and fight against HIV and show love and support for the people living with HIV.


“Let Communities Lead” is a slogan that suggests the world can end AIDS, with communities leading the way. Organisations of communities living with, at risk of, or affected by HIV are the frontline of progress in the HIV response. This World AIDS Day is more than a celebration of the achievements of communities; it is a call to action to enable and support communities in their leadership roles. World AIDS Day 2023 will highlight that to unleash the full potential of community leadership to enable the end of AIDS:

● Communities’ leadership roles need to be made core in all HIV plans and programmes and in their formulation, budgeting, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. “Nothing about us without us.”

● Communities’ leadership roles need to be fully and reliably funded to
enable the required scale up,and be properly supported and remunerated. “Not ending AIDS is more expensive than ending it.”

● Barriers to communities’ leadership roles need to be removed. An enabling regulatory environment is needed which facilitates communities’ role in provision of HIV services, ensures civil society space, and protects the human rights of all, including marginalised communities, to advance the global HIV response. “Remove laws that harm, create laws that empower.”

On World AIDS Day 2023, Mr. Yeap Beow Hai, the St John Ambulans Malaysia (SJAM) Kedah State Commander, Dr Tan Wei Leong, EXCO member of Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC) & Persatuan Cahaya Harapan Kedah, Dr Theyveeka Selvy Rajoo Committee Member of the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) AIDS / STI’s Committee, Charter President of Kelab Inner Wheel Parklands & SJAM National Staff Officer (Training), Mr Chow Hooi Pin, Organising Chairperson and invited guest Tunku Munirah binti Tunku Mukhtar, President of Inner Wheel Club Alor Setar and respective team members came together to organise the BENGKEL KESEDARAN AIDS PERINGKAT NEGERI KEDAH 2023 with the theme of “LET COMMUNITIES LEAD’’ successful. 150 participants attended the seminar which was held at Dewan Permata Minda, Pejabat Pendidikan Daerah Kota Setar, Kedah on 16th December 2023.