Tuesday, January 10, 2006

Promoting HIV/AIDS awareness

NST: "Use a condom. Don’t screw your life."
If you see someone carrying a placard bearing these words, he or she is probably a member of the Young Malaysians Movement (YMM) promoting HIV/AIDS awareness.
YMM members were in town yesterday with a roadshow aimed at educating Malaysians on the ailment.
They paraded with their placards and handed out pamphlets and condoms along Jalan Petaling.
MCA Youth chief Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said the campaign was part of YMM’s effort to educate the public on the disease.
"But campaigns are not enough. We have campaigns to raise awareness on the dangers of taking dadah and campaigns to increase awareness on HIV/AIDS. Yet, the increasing number of dadah addicts shows weaknesses in the system."
He said eradication of dadah in the country did not lie with the authorities only but with every member of the public.
"The number of dadah addicts in the country keeps increasing along with HIV-positive patients due to the sharing of needles.
"The fight against dadah should be continuous. NGOs and the public should co-operate with government agencies to eradicate the problem."
He said MCA Youth and Umno Youth had formed a joint anti-drug committee last year to tackle the dadah menace.
The roadshow was a joint effort by MCA Bukit Bintang, KL Hawkers and Petty Traders Association, ING Insurance Berhad and Chan Loong Dragon and Lion Dance Association.

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