World AIDS Day

Ok ok so I'm a little late. World AIDS Day is on the 1st of December, and this year I got to be part of one of the events. The Harley Owners Group (yes, HOGs) lent their support. We got to go for a ride (big convoy of abt 30 bikes), from Megamall to Pavillion... Was fun, but felt like a bit of a waste. We had a police escort who blocked most of the streets on the way to Pavillion, but no one knew why all these bikes were going by! We should have had a big flag or sign or something. But nevertheless, thanks to the biker boys (who, funnily enough, are all on facebook...).

Anyways, the real reason for this post is to spread a bit of info. And before you think I'm trying to copy my mother, I'm not la... But yes, I did grow up around it, and I realized that what might seem like second nature to me, a lot of people are oblivious about. I'm not going to spit out statistics, if you want all that info, I'm sure you can find it at the Malaysian AIDS Council website, http://www.mac.org.my/.


First and foremost. SAFE SEX. If that word irks you, I'll have to repeat it. SEX SEX SEX SEX... still uncomfortable? here's more... SEX SEX SEX SEX SEX!!!... okay, now try this. Talk about it!!
And i don't mean sit around the table talking about penis sizes ala Sex and the City (although I know that can be fun). But talk about condoms. Use condoms! ( I was recently horrified to learn that the 'sex ed' chapters in our school text books don't mention safe sex and condoms.... why isn't anyone, that i can see, pushing for better sex ed in schools?) At the rate that this epidemic is spreading, we really don't have time for sex, and especially safe sex to be 'taboo'. Everyone does it, so get over it. And spread the message instead. As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure, and as there is no cure for AIDS as yet, prevention is key. From the hearts of the cities to deep in the kampungs. I know that MAC works hard to do this, and I've seen how frustrating it can be. Especially when they come up against people who think that educating people on safe sex = encouraging them to have sex. Come on la! Don't be so naive to think that our youth don't have sex just cause it might not be openly discussed. Yes, the choice of whether or not to have sex is theirs, but if they do choose to have sex, they should be educated enough to know to do it safely. (btw, this isn't just specific to AIDS, it applies to all sexually transmitted diseases). Maybe some might think that to talk about sex, or safe sex, is not part of the asian culture, or something only 'mat salleh' do. Being at school in Melbourne the last six years, i dont think the question of condoms vs no condoms has ever come up. Everyone knows about it, what it does, what it prevents. Of course that doesn't make them immune to anything, they still have to put it into action. But the fact that sex isn't taboo (and there is proper sex ed in schools), does help a lot. Some of my australian friends shudder at the thought that i've never had a pap smear, nor been to see a gyneacologist, which i'm sure is the same case for many Malaysian women. So yes, talk about it! Anyone who's sexually active has the right to safe sex (which means you have the right to demand to use a condom, esp us girls). Get informed! Spread the word! Get yourself tested! and really, now with every different shape/size/texture/taste/color of condoms there are, it can be heaps of fun :P


That was prevention. What about the people who already have HIV/AIDS? I've met a few people who are HIV positive. There is nothing different about them. They are like you and me. They Are you and me. Don't think that a HIV+ person is automatically a drug addict or sex worker. A big percentage (check mac website for numbers) of women infected are housewives (most numbers in Kelantan). AIDS DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE. Don't matter if you're male/female/old/young/malay/chinese/indian/gay/straight/rich/poor. What people living with HIV/AIDS (and their families) need is support. Apparently there are still a number of people who think that touching/hugging/kissing/sharing a plate with a HIV+ person is going to get them infected. Wrrrrrrrrrrong! There are three ways you can be infected. Sharing of needles, unsafe sex, and if a pregnant woman is infected she can pass it on to her baby. And don't think that there's no point in helping them because they're going to die anyway. Many HIV+ people still go on to live long lives. So don't discriminate (you shouldn't anyway). With the numbers we have here in Malaysia alone, more likely than not you've already come across a HIV+ person and not known it.

OK, thats my AIDS ramble.... If i didn't say anything you didn't already know, great. If you learnt something new, even better. Spread the love people (safely :) )