Penyinar:
BDAC youth division

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(NOTE: News are obtained from various resources. Kelab Penyinar of Brunei Darussalam AIDS Council does not intend to violate any materials/text/pictures/captions that are copyright of their respective authors/owners.)

2 December 2007

Concern over local teen vice

Teenage pregnancies in Brunei have become a cause for concern for Brunei Darussalam AIDS Council (BDAC). This rising vice trend could promote the spread of the AIDS virus among our younger generation, a spokesperson for BDAC told Sunday Bulletin yesterday.

Although, there has been no record of under 24 yearr old HIV patients in Brunei, unprotected intercourse is the major mode of transmission of the virus here according to BDAC.

"The rise in vice is a main ingredient in the spreads of AIDS and that is the last thing we want to hear in the Sultanate where under 24yr-old AIDS patients are not even recorded," said Iswandy Ahmad spokesman for BDAC.

Together with colleague Liyana Imani Abdul Latif, the two energetic Honorary Secretaries of Brunei Darussalam AIDS Council sounded alarm over the possible dangers we may encounter through ignorance.

"We just need to prevent the spread of the deadly disease through education - targeting the young at grassroots level," Iswandy said. We should act now," he said as the ground for a such an eventuality is becoming fertile with the impulsive and ignorant behaviour of our teens.

Recently, there had been videos of local teenage vice giving much concern to this conservative society, in particular BDAC who aims to increase tolerance for AIDS patients while at the same time fight against it spreading.

They said not many students know about this issue, and most think AIDS is bad, and the matter of how it is transmitted is something still less understood by the younger generation. Therefore, it is important that further understanding is given on STD and STI to the young.

The number of STIs in the country has been increasing over the past few years.

Medical officers stated that this rise may imply an increase in the number of people having casual sex and therefore putting themselves at a higher risk of infection.

As most cases are symptomatic, there may be larger number of cases that have remained undetected.

Brunei only has recorded 36 local AIDS patients since the 1990s, a small number, but since the beginning of this year, six new cases were detected, sparking fears of an alarming trend.

"No one under-24 is recorded so far, so Brunei is somewhat doing a good job, but the trend among teenagers on pre marital and casual sex nowadays raises concern," Liyana Imani said.

Pre-marital sex (zina) is against the tenets of Islam and committing such an act would be enormously sinful. Therefore, many still believe that zina does not happen in the country, or at least not to a significant level.

The commonplace idea is that, those who are not married typically abstain from having sexual relations.

However, it is not necessarily so says Liyana Imani, an undergraduate at Universiti Brunei Darussalam taking voluntary work as honorary secretary at BDAC.

Together with Iswandy Ahmad, a young teacher, she is determined to stop the spread of AIDS in Brunei. They are Commonwealth's Youth Ambassadors for Positive Living (CYAPL).

When asked, if BDAC was supportive on the idea of formal sex education in school. They said such education was available in religious school.

They said, formal sex education in Brunei has to follow with our beliefs and our culture. They said before formal sex education was practised in western countries, Islam had already been teaching it. Issues like "balikh", 'polygamy", etc are taught in religious schools.

However, there is a need to change our approach, they said.

"You can't order a teenager not to do it, you need to educate them, tell them why it (pre marital casual intercourse) is dangerous and unsafe," they said.

There are three ways of catching AIDS. Through sexual intercourse, mother to child and through blood transfusion. Brunei's blood banks are thoroughly screened, we need not worry about it. But the rise of casual sex among teenagers could give way for HIV to spread, they said.

1 December 2007

BDAC will promote AIDS awareness with musical show

Brunei Darussalam AIDS Council (BDAC) will be promoting awareness of AIDS with a musical show by local artistes on December 6 at the International Convention Centre. There will be musical performances to encourage the public to support the afflicted together with the BDAC.

AIDS is still not quite openly discussed in Brunei. To break the silence about HIV, the Brunei Darussalam AIDS Council (BDAC) is bringing forward its mission to provide educational and preventive programmes to stop the spread of the disease here.

It's mainly to make people aware not to treat those afflicted as sick but as a lifestyle they lead, said Iswandy Ahmad and Liyana Imani Abdul Latif, two young and energetic Honorary Secretaries of Brunei Darussalam Aids Council. They said society here must be educated that HIV is not a common communicable disease such as SARS etc, but it's something the infected person has to live with.

This observation comes as no surprise, as the two are also Commonwealth Youth Ambassadors for Positive Living.

However, they are also facing a difficult task. Besides prevention works, they are also garnering efforts to increase social acceptance of AIDS patients through public awareness and understanding of the disease and its transmission.

"When we probed students about their understanding of AIDS, most would immediately say words such as 'Shameful', 'Prostitution', 'Death'. We can't blame them, this is their understanding, it is pretty much a taboo in Brunei, but we want to see this changed, we want more tolerance and sympathy for the afflicted," said Iswandy Ahmad.

19 November 2007

Brunei sees biggest spike in HIV/AIDS cases

By Za'im Zaini

The number of HIV/AIDS cases in Brunei has seen the biggest surge so far with six new cases recorded in the first five months of this year.

"This is a worrying issue as the numbers are increasing. However, it is still a taboo in terms of it being made public but we cannot hide it anymore and we have to come out in the open and say that HIV/AIDS cases are rising.

"We have to make efforts to highlight this matter so that the public can take steps too," said the Minister of Health, Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suyoi bin Haji Osman, in a brief interview yesterday on the sidelines of a forum.

When asked whether the ministry has plans to join forces with the Ministry of Education in tackling the rising number of HIV/AIDS cases, the minister said, "At the moment, school students are only being briefed on the dangers of HIV/AIDS. However, the issue of whether it (HIV/AIDS awareness) can be included in the school curriculum is something to think about."

On the final day of the health convention at the ICC, a forum on HIV/AIDS was presented by Iswandy Ahmad, the Commonwealth Youth Ambassador for Positive Living (CYAPL).

He said as of June 16, 2007 Brunei has recorded 36 local cases of HIV/AIDS and 19 have died so far. Six of these 36 cases were found this year making it the highest surge ever.

The total number of people living with HIV in 2006 globally stood at 37.2 million adults including 17.7 million women. The number of infected children under 15 years old stood at 2.3 million adding up to a total of 39.5 million.

People newly infected with HIV in 2006 stood at 4.3 million -- 3.8 million adults and 530,000 children under 15 years of age.

AIDS deaths in 2006 were 2.9 million adults including 380,000 children under 15 years of age, said Iswandy.

"AIDS, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, is a condition when HIV destroys the body's immune system. It is spread through unprotected sex with an infected partner, use of contaminated needles and syringes, transfusion of infected blood and blood products and from an infected mother to her baby before, during or after birth," he said.

There is still no cure for AIDS but there are medications, which slow the progression from HIV to AIDS. So, the only way to avoid infection is to be well informed, to be faithful to one partner and not to share needles and syringes.

Iswandy also said that members of the public should be informed, protect themselves and advise others not to discriminate against people living with HIV and get involved in HIV & AIDS voluntary work.

19 November 2007

AIDS: 2007 catat kes tertinggi di Brunei

Oleh Hasrulraizan

Jumlah itu juga menjadikan jumlah keseluruhan pembawa kuman HIV dan pesakit AIDS di negara ini kepada 36 orang berbanding hanya 32 orang pada Mei lalu dengan 19 daripada mereka sudah meninggal dunia akibatnya.

Peningkatan jumlah penyakit itu adalah satu perkara yang membimbangkan yang kini tidak boleh disembunyikan lagi daripada pengetahuan umum, tegas Menteri Kesihatan Pehin Dato Seri Setia Haji Suyoi Haji Osman

Beliau yang ditemu bual pada majlis penutup Ekspo Kesihatan Brunei hari ini berkata harus ada ketelusan sepenuhnya daripada semua pihak kepada orang ramai mengenai penyakit itu kerana masalah itu tidak boleh didiamkan lagi.

"Kita perlu keluar dan memberitahu orang ramai yang kes HIV dan AIDS di negara ini semakin meningkat dan pada masa sama terus-menerus berusaha keras ke arah mengurangkan dan membendung penyakit ini daripada terus meningkat," katanya lagi.

Dengan ketelusan serta sikap keterbukaan itu, orang ramai akan dapat sama-sama membantu terutama diri mereka sendiri dan orang di sekeliling mereka supaya berbuat sesuatu dan melaksana langkah pengekangannya, beliau menambah kata.

Beliau akui di sekolah sememangnya pelajar diberikan taklimat mengenai bahaya HIV sambil menyuarakan kemungkinan satu hari nanti Kementerian Kesihatan akan bekerjasama dengan Kementerian Pendidikan bagi menyerapkan sukatan pelajaran berkaitan HIV dan AIDS dalam kurikulum pelajaran sebagai usaha yang lebih meluas.

Statistik jangkitan HIV/AIDS itu didedahkan Duta Belia Komanwel bagi Kehidupan Positif (CYAPL) Brunei, Awang Iswandy Ahmad pada Forum Kesihatan yang bertajuk HIV di Karnival Kesihatan Brunei hari ini.

Beliau juga mendedahkan statistik global bagi epidemik HIV dan AIDS bagi 2006 iaitu seramai 39.5 juta penduduk dunia dijangkiti AIDS dengan 2.3 juta daripadanya adalah kanak-kanak yang berusia di bawah 15 tahun dan daripada 37.2 juta orang dewasa sebanyak 17.7 juta daripadanya adalah kaum wanita.

Statistik itu turut mendedahkan serama 4.3 juta kes baru HIV telah dikesan pada tahun berkenaan dengan seramai 530,000 orang daripadanya adalah di kalangan kanak-kanak di bawah umur 15 tahun dan di kalangan orang dewasa pula seramai 3.8 juta orang.

Menurut Awang Iswandy AIDS adalah masalah gaya hidup yang boleh diatasi melalui langkah seperti memiliki maklumat tepat mengenai HIV dan AIDS, setia pada satu pasangan saja dalam melakukan hubungan seks, tidak berkongsi jarum dan alat menyuntik serta mengamalkan ilmu pengetahuan agama.

Seseorang itu tidak dapat mengenal pasti pembawa virus berkenaan hanya dengan melihat kerana pesakit terbabit mungkin kelihatan sihat namun tetap dapat menjangkiti virus berkenaan kepada orang lain sebaliknmya ujian darah adalah satu-satunya cara bagi mengetahui sama ada seseorang itu dijangkiti ataupun tidak.

Beliau bagaimanapun menyangkal tanggapan ramai mengenai kaedah virus HIV menjangkiti seseorang seperti virus berkenaan tidak menjangkiti melalui air peluh, air liur, air mata, air kencing dan gigitan nyamuk.

Orang ramai juga tidak akan dijangkiti virus HIV dengan berkongsi makanan dan minuman, belajar dan bersekolah bersama, berpeluk, bermain bersama, berkongsi katil, rumah dan peralatan rumah serta menggunakan kemudahan-kemudahan awam seperti kolam renang, telefon dan sebagainya, tambahnya.

Iswandy menerangkan, AIDS masih lagi belum ada ubatnya, namun ada perubatan yang dapat melambatkan perubahan dari HIV iaitu virus yang menyerang sistem ketahanan tubuh badan kepada AIDS iaitu keadaan tubuh badan yang dihidapi apabila HIV memusnahkan sistem ketahanan tubuh badan.

Beliau turut menyeru orang ramai bersama-sama membantu menangani HIV dengan sentiasa mempunyai maklumat terkini mengenainya, melindungi diri dan memaklumkannya kepada orang lain, jangan mendiskriminasikan mereka yang dijangkiti HIV, melibatkan diri dengan kerja-kerja amal berkaitan HIV dan AIDS dan jangan terlibat dalam menambahkan lagi penyakit-penyakit masyarakat.

8 October 2007

Sexually transmitted infections on the rise

By Za'im Zaini

This drastic rise suggests that many Bruneians are involved in promiscuous sexual activities without protection, said Dr Ahmad Fakhri DPH Junaidi from the Disease Control Section at the Ministry of Health recently.

The numbers might be higher, he said. Most of these cases are referred or identified by laboratory or clinics and are sent to the Disease Control Section but there are cases that fail to seek treatment.

STI is an infectious disease among humans, which is transmitted through unprotected sex also known as sexually transmitted disease. Chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis are venereal diseases that infect humans.

In Brunei, those infected with Chlamydia and gonorrhoea is the highest in number. Many would have heard of the disease syphilis because in the world of medicine it is one of the complications that lead to death.

He also revealed that syphilis not only infects men but both sex. To identify if someone is a carrier of STI is difficult because there are no obvious symptoms.

Those who are infected with STI would feel pain in their private parts while urinating aside from the discharge of mucus, making numerous trips to the loo, and cuts found on the private parts.

Early symptoms of syphilis are cuts on the private parts that would appear only a few months after which rashes would appear and soon go away. If medical help is not sought, the disease would turn chronic and cause an impact on the brain and heart leading to death.

Since STI can also affect toddlers or infants, Brunei health authorities make sure that all mothers undergo syphilis tests to ensure a healthy foetus. Chlamydia and gonorrhoea can also infect the unborn child, especially their eyes.

Both infections can cause impotency and male carriers of Chlamydia can become impotent.

He also said that Chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis are curable but added that it does not mean it will not infect the person again.

Even at chronic stages patients can be treated but will face complications.

Asked which gender is more at risk to the infection, he said it depends on the individual and the number of promiscuous sexual activities he or she is engaged in, especially those who do without protection and with different partners.

29/September/2007

AIDS Council holds tahlil ceremony

Datin Hajah Edah (far right), president of the AIDS Council. - PHOTOS: ZASIKA MUSDI

Also present were executive committee members and representatives from the Ministry of Education.

The tahlil was then followed by a doa selamat, sungkai and mass Maghrib prayers.

29/September/2007

Majlis AIDS Brunei adakan majlis tahlil, doa selamat

2/July/2007

Workshop helps youth breaks silence on AIDS

AIDS awareness and prevention volunteers organised a workshop yesterday to give young people an opportunity to speak their minds and "break the silence" on the health menace.

Some 60 Maktab Duli students volunteered to attend the workshop which was conducted by Iswandy Ahmad, Commonwealth Youth Ambassador for Positive Living in Brunei and acting secretary of the Brunei Darussalam Aids Council (BDAC).

The workshop held at the Maktab Duli Pengiran Muda Al-Muhtadee Billah auditorium was mainly run by BDAC's sub-organisation for youth called the Penyinar Club, which aims to motivate members and other youth to practice a healthy and positive way of living.

With more than 90 active members aged 14 to 25, the club's responsibility is to disseminate information regarding HIV/Aids as widely as possible in order to eliminate discrimination, and to bring hope to those infected and affected by the disease.

"Youths are more comfortable around other youths," said Iswandy, in explaining the reason for the Penyinar Club's presence during the workshop.

The morning was filled with talks and activities for the students. One such activity had the students write out a list of answers to the question: "How is HIV spread and how is it prevented?"

They were then asked to present their answers and explain each point to the crowd.

"We need to break the silence," said Iswandy. "HIV can hit at any time and anywhere."

As of June 16 this year, there has been 35 reported local cases of HIV/Aids in the country. Nineteen have passed away. The workshop aimed to provide educational facts and increase awareness among the youth in understanding the disease and its transmission.

Also present at the workshop was Dr Ahmad Fakhri bin Dato Paduka Haji Junaidi who appeared as a consult for the Penyinar Club.

"Youths are the common victims of Aids because they are more vulnerable and impressionable," said Dr Ahmad Fakhri. "Teenagers are more susceptible and thus common targets."

He further added that the public needs to start educating them at a young age in order that they may change their behaviour.

Susina Anak Bujang, 17, and Nina Nadiyah Saidi, 16, stated that the workshop was very informative and full of lesser known facts such as the possibility of HIV/Aids infection through breast-feeding and saliva.

The Penyinar Club was initiated in 2003 and organises various programmes and activities ranging from simple outings to assisting BDAC with national events such as the World Aids Day and Walkathon Amal.

Members of the club include individuals from various institutions.

The Brunei Times

17 Jun 2007

'POP' way to teach about AIDS

Today's activity coincides with the efforts of promoting awareness on the danger of AIDS among the youth and the general public."

This was stated by the guest of honour, Hj Ahmad Hj Abd Rahman, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, at the launching of the Penyinar Orientation Programme (POP) 2007, which was held at Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Science College yesterday.

Also present were Datin Hjh Edah Hj Md Noor, President of Brunei Darussalam AIDS Council (BDAC), senior government officials, youth association representatives, members of Penyinar Club and other invited guests.

The orientation was held in conjunction with the six-year establishment of the Penyinar Club, which is under the BDAC.

The guest of honour said in order to fight against challenges and pressures as well as negative influences, those people who are affected will need to practise good habits such as being responsible and be firm.

He suggested that by getting involved in public activities such as youth associations or sports associations, they can steer clear of all negatives elements that can become detrimental to them.

28 Mei 2007

Riadah Bantu Kesedaran AIDS

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Ahad - Lebih 200 peserta yang mengenakan baju serba merah menyertai acara walkaton amal 'Walk For Life' di Padang Taman Sir Omar Ali Saifuddien di ibu negara, hari ini. Acara anjuran Majlis AIDS Brunei itu bertujuan menyebarkan maklumat dan kesedaran kepada orang ramai mengenai bahawa penyakit AIDS dan mengadakan aktiviti riadah yang sihat sebagai salah satu langkah positif di dalam menyokong hasrat mengawal jangkitan penyakit merbahaya itu. Hadir bagi menyokong aktiviti amal itu ialah Menteri Kesihatan, Pehin Dato Seri Setia Haji Suyoi Haji Osman, Menteri Pendidikan, Pehin Dato Seri Setia Haji Abdul Rahman Haji Mohamed Taib, Timbalan Menteri Kesihatan, Pehin Dato Paduka Haji Hazair Haji Abdullah, Timbalan Menteri Pendidikan, Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohammad Pengiran Haji Abdul Rahman serta setiausaha tetap dan timbalan setiausaha tetap kedua-dua kementerian. Walkaton itu dimeriahkan oleh peserta terdiri daripada pelajar dan penuntut sekolah serta anggota keluarga mereka serta pihak swasta. Kakitangan Bank Standard Chartered turut serta sebagai tanda semangat menyokong usaha untuk memberikan pendidikan mengenai penyakit AIDS dengan rombongan turut disertai oleh Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif bank berkenaan, Tiew Siew Chuen. Acara dimulakan dengan senamrobik sebelum peserta berlepas untuk memulakan perjalanan lebih 3 kilometer mengelilingi laluan sekitar Bandar Seri Begawan dan berakhir di padang berkenaan. Walkaton itu juga diserikan dengan penyampaian cenderahati untuk pengumpul derma terbanyak 'Walk For Life' kepada Datin Hajah Edah Haji Mohd Noor daripada Pengarah Jabatan Pembangunan Masyarakat, Datin Hajah Adinah Haji Osman. Acara turut diserikan dengan cabutan bertuah.

28 May 2007

'Walk For Life draws the crowds

Minister of Health, his deputy and others cut a ribbon to mark the start of the event.

Group photo with Standard Chartered Bank staff who took part in the walkathon. - Photos: Aemy Azlena

More than 1,000 people including government officials, staff of private companies and the general public took part in the four-kilometre walk around the capital.

The Minister of Health, Pehin Dato Paduka Hj Awg Suyoi bin Hj Osman, lauded Brunei Darussalam Aids Council (BDAC) over the success of the 'Walk For Life' event.

He hoped that other private agencies would follow their example and that the walkathon would be held annually.

Liyana Latif, the chairperson of the "Walk For Life" event and honorary secretary of BDAC, said that walkathon was to make people realise that HIV/AIDS exists in Brunei Darussalam. She also urged the public to put an end to the stigma of HIV/AIDS.

The "Walk For Life" event was supported by Kristal FM, DST Com, Goh Hock Kee Motors Sdn Bhd, Sullivans (B) Sdn Bhd, D'Anggerek Service Apartment, TST, Aifa Sdn Bhd, Nazmi Textile Mall, Little Bean Company, BLNG, Soon Lee Megamart, Freme Travel Sdn Bhd and Standard Chartered Bank. Volunteers from the Penyinar Club were also involved in the walkathon.

At the end of the event, prizes were presented to the top four people who collected the most donations for the event; first prize went to BDAC President Datin Hjh Edah Hj Mohd Noor.

Proceeds will go to BDAC's awareness programmes and other Penyinar Youth programmes.

28 May 2007

Bruneians Show Higher AIDS Awareness Level

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

28-May-07

ORGANISERS of the walkathon to raise Aids awareness in the sultanate exceeded their expectations with an estimated 1,000 people participating in yesterday's event.

"You can say that we painted the town red," said Liyana Latif, chairperson of the walkathon, referring to the number of participants who wore red shirts for the walkathon that was previously expected to attract only 300 people.

Moreover, the Brunei Darussalam Aids Council (BDAC), which organised the event, said the campaign also exceeded its expectation in terms of the money it raised. It initially had a target of $3,000, but organisers raised an estimated $6,000 as of May 26.

"We haven't managed to get a final figure from the walkathon, but we are happy that the turnout was great and that we managed to educate a lot of people in the process," said Liyana. "We started planning for this event about a month and a half ago, when we started handing out donation cards to our volunteers, schools, government agencies and so on."

Ten donation cards were handed out to each person to hand out to more people.

The walkathon was also organised as a fundraiser for the council which plans on bringing in speakers and educators from different countries to educate volunteers on HIV/Aids awareness and counselling.

Previously, another member of BDAC, Muhd Zul Fadhly Md Jali, said the walkathon is a way to encourage awareness of the issue and that "spreading awareness is a way of keeping people at risk alive".

Two of the high profile participants in yesterday's event were Education Minister Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Lela Dato Seri Setia Dato Awg Hj Abdul Rahman Dato Setia Hj Mohammad Taib and Health Minister Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Suyoi Hj Osman.

The Brunei Times

28 Mei 2007

Pantau warga asing ada AIDS

Pehin Dato Haji Suyoi (paling kanan) turut menyertai acara walkaton amal Walk for Life dalam usaha membangkitkan kesedaran awam mengenai bahaya HIV/AIDS di negara ini.

Beliau berkata Kementerian Kesihatan akan sentiasa bekerjasama dengan pihak swasta dalam usaha menyebarkan maklumat mengenai bahaya penyakit HIV/AIDS itu dan pencegahan penyakit berkenaan.

Oleh kerana jumlah pesakit HIV/AIDS di negara ini semakin meningkat, kementerian telah mengambil langkah aktif memantau tahap kesihatan pekerja asing yang masuk ke Brunei, katanya ketika ditemu bual Media Permata hari ini sempena walkaton amal Walk For Life.

Beliau berkata kementerian mewajibkan setiap pekerja asing menjalani ujian darah bagi mengenal pasti tahap kesihatan mereka dan mereka yang menghidapi penyakit itu tidak dibenarkan masuk berkhidmat di Brunei, tegasnya.

Bagi warga tempatan yang darah mereka mengandungi virus HIV/AIDS ketika pemeriksaan awal kesihatan akan diminta menjalani pemeriksaan serta rawatan lanjut dan melalui khidmat nasihat supaya mengamalkan cara hidup yang lebih baik, katanya.

Kementerian juga sentiasa memastikan darah yang didermakan oleh orang ramai bebas dan bersih daripada virus HIV/AIDS dengan mengadakan ujian ke atas darah berkenaan sebelum diluluskan untuk didermakan kepada mereka yang memerlukan.

Menurutnya kempen kesedaran dilaksanakan secara berterusan melalui pertubuhan bukan kerajaan manakala kerajaan pula sentiasa mengeluarkan poster bagi memberikan maklumat kepada orang ramai mengenai bahaya HIV/AIDS.

Walaupun pendidikan mengenai HIV/AIDS belum lagi diterapkan dalam sukatan pelajaran di sekolah, Menteri Kesihatan menerangkan semua klinik kesihatan di seluruh negara mempunyai maklumat lengkap untuk rujukan orang ramai mengenainya.

Beliau menerangkan rancangan promosi kesihatan yang dirancang akan dilaksanakan setelah selesai pembinaan sebuah bangunan khas dengan HIV/AIDS menjadi salah satu topik yang akan disebarkan bagi pengetahuan orang ramai terutamanya murid sekolah.

Mengenai acara amal yang dikendalikan pihak swasta seperti acara walkaton yang dianjurkan Majlis Aids Negara Brunei Darussalam itu dialu-alukan oleh Kementerian Kesihatan, katanya.

Pehin Dato Haji Suyoi berharap lebih banyak lagi badan bukan kerajaan akan tampil ke hadapan untuk menjalankan kempen seperti itu di semua peringkat kerana usaha itu harus diteruskan setiap tahun dan tidak hanya terhad diadakan setahun sekali saja.

Menurut perangkaan terkini kira-kira 40 juta orang dijangkiti oleh penyakit HIV/AIDS di seluruh dunia dan kebanyakan mereka yang positif HIV adalah mereka yang berada di dalam lingkungan umur antara 18 dan 39 tahun.

Jumlah kematian berhubungan AIDS adalah kira-kira 20 juta dan jumlah itu dianggarkan mencecah 60 juta pada 2015 dengan setiap hari kira-kira 500 orang dijangkiti HIV, sebahagian besar adalah anak damit.

Menurut anggarkan terkini kira-kira 14 juta kanak-kanak menjadi yatim piatu disebabkan HIV/AIDS dan jumlah itu dijangka meningkat kepada 40 juta pada 2010 jika tidak ada sebarang tindakan pencegahan diambil.

Sementara itu satu pertiga daripada mereka yang hidup dengan HIV/AIDS berusia antara 15 hingga 24 tahun dan kebanyakan mereka tidak mengetahui mereka membawa virus berkenaan.

Sehubungan itu setiap pihak termasuk swasta dan persatuan bukan kerajaan harus memainkan peranan aktif, bekerjasama serta berganding bahu dengan Kementerian Kesihatan dalam usaha berterusan untuk menyebarkan kefahaman mengenai HIV/AIDS kepada orang ramai.

26 May 2007

'Walk For Life' to fight AIDS

BDAC Honorary Secretary Liyana Imani with BDAC President Datin Hjh Edah Hj Mohd Noor and BDAC Secretary I, Iswandy Ahmad. - Huraizah Ahmad

Sex education may be considered a taboo but it is still our responsibility to educate people, especially young individuals, on that subject and the risks of contracting HIV/AIDS from having multiple sex partners, as well as through sharing needles, said Liyana Imani Abdul Latif.

"We try to be more realistic in spreading AIDS awareness amongst all individuals. And although it is impossible to expect anyone to refrain from sexual relations, we educate them on protection instead," she said.

Liyana, though just 22 years old, is the Honorary Secretary of the Brunei Darussalam Aids Council (BDAC) and Chairperson for the 'Walk For Life' campaign that will be held this Sunday. She is busy with preparations for what is expected to be the biggest campaign ever organised by the BDAC.

From senior government officers to individuals from private agencies and non-governmental organisations, the 'Walk For Life' calls on volunteers to contribute their time and join the walkathon to collect funds for various programmes to aid BDAC in educating the public on AIDS/HIV.

"Our previous events targeted specific areas such as the road shows we hosted at secondary schools. But this time, we are trying to involve everyone in participating in the event," said Liyana.

The four-km walk will start from the Sultan Omar Ali Saiffuddien field in Bandar Seri Begawan and cover various routes around the capital. It will end at the same venue. The walkathon is expected to start at 6.30am with warm-up exercises for participants and welcoming remarks by Liyana.

The presentation of donations from various sponsors will also take place at the event where all the donors will also have an opportunity to participate in a lucky draw.

"We have received support from various sponsors with the help of friends and volunteers, our local bloggers as well as Kristal FM, in promoting the walkathon," added Liyana.

The Walk For Life is supported by DSTCom, Goh Hock Kee Motors Sdn Bhd, Sullivans (B) Sdn Bhd, D'Anggerek Service Apartments, TST (air suci), Aifa Sdn Bhd, Nazmi Textile Mall, Little Bean Company, BLNG, Soon Lee Megamart, Freme Travel Sdn Bhd and Standard Chartered Bank.

The public are encouraged to participate in the walkathon and dress in red to symbolise the universal 'Red Ribbon' to commemorate HIV/AIDS awareness on that day.

Walkathon to raise HIV/Aids awareness



UP TO 300 people are expected to join a 6km walkathon on May 27 to raise public awareness of HIV/Aids in Brunei.

30 April 2007

Be more active in nation building, Brunei youth urged

BRUNEI needs to see more youth involvement in the nation building, said Achmed Nadzri Hj Harif, one of the four youth delegates selected from the Brunei Darussalam Aids Council and Basmida, the national anti-drugs association, to represent the country at the first Youth Caucus in Singapore last week.

The delegation for the Youth Caucus held in conjunction with the Fifth Asean Ministerial Meeting on Youth (AMMY V) returned from Singapore yesterday.

The Caucus was held to discuss and analyse the various issues facing Asean nations. Muhd Zulfadhli Hj Md Jali, Dk Syatinah Pg Adnan, Lyana Imani Abdul Latif and Achmed Nadzri Hj Harif represented the sultanate at the week-long meeting.

The Bruneian group ranged from 19-22 years old and this was their first participation at the Caucus.

"I feel really proud to represent Brunei at the event," said Achmed Nadzri Hj Harif.

He told The Brunei Times that it was a "really good experience to met lots of people from Asean and shared and discussed problems in our countries. We got together and sorted some of the issues. I spoke on the theme Employment and Entrepreneurship".

The teenager said Brunei needs "a whole lot more community engagement from the youth. We could start with social enterprises but we just need more active involvement".

He said the Caucus saw about three or four representatives from each Asean country to discuss problems and arrive at a solution.

The 19-year-old was keen to "bring back ideas into Brunei" and sees his participation at the event as an "inspiration" to contribute to the national development of the country.

Part of the outcome for AMMY V was the establishment of Asean Volunteers Coordination Agency, Asean Youth Environment Network, Asean Youth Employment/Entrepreneurs Network and the organising of the Asean Youth Festival.

Youth ministers at the meeting also lauded the successful collaboration of the Youth Caucus which was held for the first time this year.

According to information released by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, AMMY V will also see the implementation of several projects under 'Work Programme on Preparing Asean Youth for Sustainable Employment and Other Challenges of Globalisation' such as "policy development, promoting Asean awareness, promoting employability of youth and other issues such as information exchange, promoting NGO involvement and non-project activities".

As previously reported by The Brunei Times, the theme for this year's meeting "Youth: Creating Our Future Together" focuses on encouraging youth to recognise the potential and talent they have within themselves to create a strong and vibrant future for their communities.

The Youth Caucus provided a platform for voices to be heard on four areas of Asean development, namely education, employment and entrepreneurship, community engagement and environment. The Youth Caucus was organised by the People's Association Youth Movement and the National Youth Council of Singapore. -Courtesy of Brunei Times

23/April/2007

Need for HIV/AIDS Awareness Programme for students stressed

SOME 100 students from the Berakas Sixth Form Centre attended a HIV/Aids workshop organised by the Penyinar Club, a division of the non-governmental organisation, Brunei Darussalam Aids Council (BDAC) yesterday.

The Berakas Sixth Form Centre is the first school at which the BDAC conducted the workshop this year. The council plans to carry out the programme to disseminate information and raise awareness about HIV/Aids to at least one school in each of the country's four districts.

Iswandy Ahmad, the secretary of the BDAC as well as the Commonwealth Youth Ambassador for Positive Living said, "Basically this is one form of spreading awareness about HIV/Aids among the youth of Brunei. From it they will at least know the ways to protect themselves from HIV and any sexually transmitted diseases."

"There is a definite need to spread awareness about HIV as it is a problem for the country, not just a personal or individual problem, as was stated by the United Nations," he added.

He noted that there is an increasing awareness about HIV/Aids in Brunei, but there is still a social stigma surrounding HIV/Aids victims.

"According to a reliable source, the latest HIV/Aids related death in Brunei was of a five-year-old child who passed away this year," he said.

Mohd Hazrin Daud, the Executive Committee Member of BDAC, said it is a must to increase awareness among youths. "I have seen obscene video clips being passed around through handphones of young girls aged 14 or 15. This is very worrying," he said. He said the workshop will not only help prevent the spread of the disease, but also encourage youths to get involve in positive and constructive activities.

"Youth today has a different mindset compared to their predecessors. They have their own way of thinking on how they want to do things and negative peer influence can also contribute to this," he said.

Talking to The Brunei Times, two of the Berakas Sixth Form Centre school counsellors praised the council's efforts in educating the youth.

"With these type of activities, youth should know the consequences and with the knowledge they have, they can understand anddraw the lines," she said. They added that through the workshop they can also learn to accept people infected with Aids. -Courtesy of Brunei Times

23/April/2007

Students Learn On Dangers of AIDS

Over 50 students from the Sixth Form Centre in Berakas attended a Basic Workshop Programme on HIV/AIDS.

The event, organised by the Penyinar Club under the Brunei Darussalam Aids Council (BDAC), was also attended by Vice President of the council, Matron Hajah Jaliha Haji Momin.

According to statistics, until April 20, at least 32 individuals in the country have been affected by HIV/AIDS and of that at least 18 have died.

At least 79 per cent infected by the virus comprise of individuals aged between 20 and 49.

The first case of HIV/AIDS in the country was reported in early 1986.

According to the BDAC Secretary, Iswandy Ahmad, the workshop was part of a lineup of HIV/AIDS awareness projects by the council to provide proper education on the subject, especially for the youth.

He added that over 40 million youths have been affected by HIV/AIDS around the globe, therefore it is important to spread the message across for all young individuals on the dangers of HIV/AIDS and its prevention.

The club will also be actively organising similar projects in a number of schools including Tutong and Belait. - Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

23/April 2007

18 Jadi Korban AIDS Sejak 1986

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Ahad - Perangkaan sehingga 20 April tahun ini sebanyak 32 warga tempatan dijangkiti virus AIDS/HIV dan daripada jumlah itu, sebanyak 18 orang meninggal dunia akibatnya.

Sebanyak 79 peratus daripada mereka yang dijangkiti virus itu terdiri daripada golongan belia yang berusia antara 20 dan 49 tahun dan kes pertama jangkitan di Brunei dicatatkan pada 1986.

Perangkaan itu adalah sebahagian daripada kandungan taklimat mengenai penyakit AIDS dan HIV yang disampaikan pada sesi taklimat Program Bengkel Asas AIDS/HIV di Pusat Tingkatan Enam, Berakas hari ini.

Bengkel anjuran bersama sekolah dan Majlis AIDS Brunei Darussalam yang dikendalikan Kelab Penyinar itu disertai kira-kira 50 pelajar sekolah berkenaan dengan dihadiri sama naib presiden majlis, Hajah Jaliha Haji Momin.

Setiausaha Majlis AIDS Brunei Darussalam, Awang Iswandy Ahmad berkata bengkel itu dianjurkan sebagai salah satu projek kesedaran untuk menyebarkan maklumat serta kesedaran mengenai penyakit AIDS/HIV dan untuk mengikis pendapat serta pandangan salah mengenai penyakit itu.

Beliau berkata memandangkan penyakit yang dihidapi lebih 40 juta penduduk dunia itu dihidapi oleh golongan muda, maka golongan itu harus diberi penekanan mengenai bahaya penyakit serta cara menghindari dan mengelak daripada dijangkiti virus berkenaan.

Bengkel yang dikendalikan Kelab Penyinar itu adalah inisiatif Majlis AIDS Brunei Darussalam untuk menggalakkan anggota muda majlis berjumpa serta memberi nasihat serta menyebarkan maklumat kepada peserta sebagai kaunselor rakan sebaya.

Bengkel itu tidak hanya akan dikendalikan di Pusat Tingkatan Enam di daerah Brunei dan Muara tetapi juga di Tutong dan Belait dengan lebih daripada lima buah sekolah disasarkan untuk diberikan bengkel berkenaan.

Bengkel itu diharap dapat membantu golongan muda memahami serta mengambil langkah berhati-hati dalam kehidupan mereka dan memberikan maklumat supaya mereka membuat keputusan yang bijak ketika berhadapan dengan tekanan rakan sebaya tanpa beralih kepada dadah atau gejala antisosial.

Selain sesi taklimat, peserta bengkel juga terlibat dalam program berdasarkan aktiviti yang dikendalikan oleh kaunselor terlatih kelab berkenaan.

Bengkel itu juga berperanan mendukung usaha kerajaan dan persatuan swasta menyebarkan maklumat serta membendung penyakit itu daripada menjangkiti lebih banyak golongan muda.  - Courtesy of Media Permata

31/March/2007

Majlis AIDS turut meriahkan Maulud Nabi


BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Jumaat - Majlis AIDS Negara Brunei Darussalam hari ini turut mengadakan majlis berdikir sempena sambutan Maulud Nabi Muhammad SAW.

Ketika berucap pada majlis yang dihadiri sama ahli-ahli Kelab Penyinar, yang dipertua majlis Datin Hajah Edah Haji Mohd berkata dalam usaha mencegah merebaknya HIV/AIDS di Brunei, majlis berterusan menjalankan aktiviti bagi masyarakat terutama bagi para belia.

Beliau berkata sejarah Islam juga membuktikan kemunculan belia yang unggul seperti Sayidina Ali dan Siti Aisyah yang patut dijadikan contoh teladan terutama sekali ahli-ahli Kelab Penyinar dan para belia secara umumnya.

Seluruh dunia bersetuju bahawa ilmu pengetahuan yang mantap, kelakuan dan perangai yang betul serta pemikiran waras dalam membuat keputusan yang cara terbaik bagi menangani HIV/AIDS, katanya.

Acara dimulakan dengan bacaan Surah Al-Fatihah beramai-ramai yang dipimpin oleh pengerusi majlis, Awang Mohd Hazrin Daud. -Courtesy Media Permata

31/March/2007

Penyinar celebrates Maulud

The president of the Brunei Darussalam AIDS Council (BDAC), Datin Hjh Edah bte Hj Mohd Noor, joined members of the "Penyinar" club at a Prophet Muhammad's birthday (Maulud) celebration at the D'Anggerek Hotel in Berakas yesterday.

The "Penyinar" club is a youth organisation consists of some 80 members.

In her speech prior to proceedings, Datin Hjh Edah said that BDAC is continuously working to prevent the spread of the HIV/AIDS in Brunei Darussalam. "The entire world agrees that prevention of HIV/ AIDS is the best method to contain the spread of the disease, coupled with the proper knowledge, good behaviour and the right mindset."

She called upon youths especially to be knowledgeable "in order to become a good member of society and a potential leader in the future."

Among the objectives of "Penyinar" is to provide its members with opportunities for personal achievements and adventure, as well as participation in social activities. It offers youths with the knowledge, understanding and help they would need to utilise their full potential in preparing for life within a society and as adults in the future.

The association is also aiming to promote public awareness of health issues such as AIDs and the threats of drugs.-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

12/Feb/2007

The Asia Regional Training Workshop of the Commonwealth Youth Ambassadors for Positive Living, Chandigarh, India (5-10/Feb/2007)

 

 

 

 

The Asia Regional Training Workshop of the Commonwealth Youth Ambassadors for Positive Living began today at CYP Asia Centre and will continue up to the 10th of February, 2007. For the first time, UN and other interntional agencies such as UNAIDS, UNDP, UNODC and Constella Futures Group and the State Aids Control Society of Chandigarh are collaborating with the CYP Asia Cenre in the conduct of this Workshop with UNAIDS providing funding support also.

The inaugural function of the workshop was held today in which the Governor of the State of Haryana, Dr. A.R. Kidwai was the Chief Guest and delivered the inaugural address. Dr. Kidwai called upon the youth to create awareness among the people regarding HIV and AIDS which has ruined the lives of millions of people in the

world. He added that young people have the onerous responsibility of fighting against this disease not only for their own sake but for the sake of humanity as well. They have to play a stellar role preventing the spread of this disease as well as the spread of substance abuse in their respective countries. The Govenor exhorted the young people to become role models in their countries in providing care, support and treatment services to those infected and affected by the HIV virus and similarly work for rehabilitation of drug addicts. He lauded the CYP Asia Centre in organising the workshop on such an important theme which is affecting millions of people in the world. Dr. Kidwai stated that deep understanding, tolerance and active cooperation was necessary for r ealizing the dream of one world where there will be free movement of goods and human beings.

In his welcome and introductory address, the Regional Director of CYP Asia Centre, Mr. Raj K. Mishra stressed the need for involving the youth in the planning and implementation of policies and programmes designed for young people in the field of HIV/AIDS and substance abuse. He called upon the Youth Ambassadors to take up the gauntlet of halting the spread of the HIV virus and that of substance abuse in their respective countries. Mr. Hassan Shifau proposed a vote of thanks to all those present among whom were representatives of patner agencies, government officials, NGOs and the media.

The workshop is being attended by 30 participants drawn from all Commonwealth countries barring Singapore.

 

---

1/December//2006

Information crucial to deter AIDS

Information campaigns on steps to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS must benefit young people, who need to be reminded to lead healthy lives and adhere to high moral values, the minister of health said yesterday.

``AIDS is a social disease associated with social behaviour,'' Minister of Health Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Paduka Haji Suyoi Osman said in a forum yesterday in conjunction with the celebration of World AIDS Day. ``Only when social behaviour is changed can HIV/AIDS be prevented from spreading,'' he added.

``Information on preventive measures should be spread among the community mainly to the youth,'' he continued, stressing that such measures ``will be successful only if the community, does not get involved in activities that would destroy and pollute their minds''.

To prevent the epidemic from further spreading, the ministry has been organising awareness campaigns. It is also taking steps to ensure safe blood supplies and provide those infected with the disease with antiviral medication and counselling services. The ministry also monitors the trend of the disease through surveillance activities.

The minister also expressed his concern over the spread of the disease and the lack of vaccines for AIDS patients. Since AIDS is a ``social disease'', information campaigns are critical to efforts to combat its spread and the involvement of non-governmental bodies, such as the Brunei Darussalam AIDS Council, is vital, the minister said. ``Spreading the message is not just to encourage a healthy lifestyle but also to not engage in free sex and drugs to prevent its further infection,'' he said, adding ``it is also meant to educate the society about the adverse effects of having a negative attitude on, or stigmatising, HIV/AIDS sufferers.''

He explained that a society that attaches a stigma to AIDS patients will only lead to the country's failure to prevent the spread of the disease, and this can deprive patients the moral support they need.

Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan speaking on the occasion of World AIDS Day, meanwhile, highlighted that everyone needs to participate in efforts to combat the further spread of the disease.

``Leaders at every level must recognise that halting the spread of AIDS is also a prerequisite for reaching most of the other goals, which together form the international community's agreed blueprint for building a better world in the 21st century,'' he said.

1/December//2006

Knowledge about AIDS still severely lacking in Brunei

Despite wide access to information at the click of a mouse, it is upsetting to know that there are many who have yet to equip themselves with common civic awareness in dealing with people with HIV/ AIDS.

It is a sad picture actually, that the continuation of AIDS-related stigma and prejudice prevails worldwide, Brunei being no exception.

The fact that local volunteers who work with people living with HIV requested anonymity for this interview is telling enough.

No amount of red ribbons or fundraising events by Hollywood celebrities can save these victims from being perceived as pariahs.

``Many people do not know that one cannot get infected with HIV by ordinary contact. It is OK to eat with them, shake hands, hug, share towels and breathe the same air,'' says one volunteer. ``One also cannot get infected through spitting, coughing, sneezing, sweat or mosquito bites.

``Sidelining these individuals must cease. Life still has to go on for them. But they are not treated accordingly. Instead they are made unemployed, verbally abused and discarded by their own family members, thus making these victims feel lonely, degraded and basically `dehumanised'.''

The volunteer says one of the ways for the Bruneian community to change such mindset is through education via public campaigns.

Iswandy Ahmad, the honorary secretary of the Penyinar Club aligned to the Brunei Darussalam AIDS Council agrees with this view.

``Yes, we do need to educate ourselves and address our fears and misbeliefs on how HIV is transmitted,'' says Iswandy.

He adds that the club organises talks at schools to speak on these issues and encourage sexual abstinence before marriage to prevent AIDS.

``Prevention is the main word here. It is also about making the right decisions,'' says Iswandy.

This, however, may not be the right way, claims another volunteer who believes that education should start with the society admitting that it is still mistreating those suffering from HIV/AIDS.

``We should stop living in denial,'' says the volunteer, adding that HIV/AIDS patients still face deep social stigma in terms of career development and social standing.

One volunteer was also quick to notice that the forum held in conjunction with the World AIDS Day 2006 in the capital yesterday had somewhat failed to create awareness on the subject matter.

The forum themed ``Gift of Youth'' focused on the problems affecting juveniles in the nation and little was touched on the disease itself.

The first speaker, Gambar Gapar, the principal of Raja Isteri Secondary Girls School (STPRI), spoke about the academic life among youths.

The second speaker, Hasnah Omar, an officer from Pusat Dakwah, provided an Islamic perspective.

Another speaker, magistrate Lailatul Zubaidah Hussain, stated that youths were the main focus of the forum as the rise of social problems could potentially aggravate the number of AIDS/HIV patients.

``In Brunei, the number of reported local cases is relatively small but it does not mean that it would not rise in the future. Speakers have identified that social problems among youths can contribute to rising number of HIV/AIDS patients here. That is why speakers spoke on the dangers of social ills,'' she explained.

Observers felt that the forum failed to raise the social stigma faced by those suffering from AIDS or why the prevailing misconception should be changed.

But efforts are being made, claims another local volunteer. ``A couple of years ago, a forum was held here where three Malaysian HIV patients were invited to tell their side of the story. It was eye-opening and sad.''

The volunteer claims the Sultanate's frontline in creating public awareness on HIV/AIDS is the AIDS council and Penyinar Club as both have worked hard and continue to do so in educating the public of this deadly disease that has killed 25 million people worldwide.

1/December//2006

AHIV/AIDS Terkawal Tapi Waspada!

Seramai 30 orang warga tempatan dilaporkan menghidap jangkitan HIV/AIDS yang terdiri daripada 21 orang lelaki dan sembilan orang perempuan dengan 17 orang sudah meninggal dunia akibat jangkitan itu.

Dengan statistik sedemikian, Brunei masih dikategorikan oleh Pertubuhan Kesihatan Sedunia (WHO) sebagai negara di tahap rendah daripada segi jangkitan, kata Menteri Kesihatan Pehin Dato Haji Suyoi Haji Osman.

Beliau berucap demikian ketika merasmikan Hari AIDS Sedunia 2006 peringkat nasional di Pusat Persidangan Antarabangsa hari ini.

Beliau berkata daripada jumlah itu, 80 peratus jangkitan berlaku di kalangan mereka yang berumur antara 20 dan 49 tahun dan sebahagian besar jangkitan berlaku melalui hubungan seks.

"AIDS merupakan penyakit sosial yang jangkitannya berkait rapat dengan tingkah laku sosial dan dengan menukar tingkah laku sosial baru kita dapat mengelakkan HIV/AIDS daripada merebak," katanya.

Beliau berkata penglibatan badan bukan kerajaan seperti Majlis AIDS Negara Brunei Darussalam adalah penting untuk menyebarkan mesej kepada orang ramai bagi mengamalkan tatacara hidup yang bermoral tinggi.

Dunia sedang mengalami peningkatan wabak AIDS di mana sesetengah negara kini mengalami peningkatan kadar jangkitan baru AIDS secara mendadak sedangkan yang sebelum ini kadar tersebut adalah yang stabil atau menurun.

Menurutnya, laporan yang dikeluarkan pada 21 November di Geneva oleh Pertubuhan UNAIDS/WHO yang bertajuk 2006 AIDS Epidemic Update, menunjukkan sejumlah 39.5 juta penduduk dunia kini menghidap penyakit AIDAS.

"Tahun ini saja dianggarkan 2.9 juta orang telah meninggal dunia disebabkan oleh AIDS penyakit-penyakit berkaitan AIDS," katanya.

Beliu berkata terbaru yang terdapat dalam laporan itu menunjukkan program pencegahan jangkitan HIV tidak dapat dikekalkan mengikut perubahan epidemik kerana kadar HIV adalah dalam tahap yang sama malah ada yang meningkat.

Menurut beliau di Asia dianggarkan 8.6 juta orang menghidap HIV/AIDS pada tahun 2006 dan daripada jumlah itu, hampir sejuta orang yang baru dijangkiti dengan kira-kira 630,000 orang meninggal disebabkan oleh wabak itu.

"Jika kadar jangkitan di rantau ini berlanjutan, anggaran kerugian ekonomi pada tahun 2010 akan mencecah kepada AS$17 bilion setiap tahun dan perangkaan itu amat membimbangkan.

"Apa yang menambah kebimbangan sehingga ke hari ini, dunia masih belum menemui vaksin yang boleh mencegah jangkitan HIV dan ubat yang boleh menyembuhkan pesakit AIDS," tegasnya.

Pehin Dato Haji Suyoi mengingatkan masyarakat, terutama golongan remaja bahawa pencegahan hanya akan berjaya jika masyarakat sendiri mengamalkan cara hidup sihat, bermoral tinggi dan tidak terlibat dalam aktiviti yang meruntuhkan akhlak.

Kementerian Kesihatan juga menjalankan serta mengambil tindakan yang sewajarnya dalam melaksanakan komitmen bagi menangani wabak AIDS seperti menjalankan aktiviti pendidikan kesihatan dan kesedaran mengenai HIV/AIDS melalui kempen di peringkat nasional.

Majlis itu diselajurkan dengan forum khas bertajuk Keistimewaan Semasa Remaja yang disertai oleh ahli panel yang terdiri daripada pengarah Pembangunan Masyarakat Datin Hajah Adina dan Penguasa Dakwah dan Tabligh Hajah Hasnah Haji Omar serta pengetua sekolah Hajah Gambar Haji Gapar dan Majistret Dayang Lailatul Zubaidah Hussain.

1/December//2006

AIDS: Brunei Not Exempt

Health Minister delivers his speech

This was stated by the Minister of Health, who was speaking as guest of honour at the World AIDS Day gathering that was held yesterday at the International Convention Centre in Berakas.

"AIDS is a social disease of which the infection is related to social behaviour. By changing the social behaviour, one can avoid HIV/AIDS from spreading," added Pehin Dato Seri Setia Hj Suyoi.

The minister underlined the importance of the involvement of non-governmental organisations such as the AIDS Council in widening the broadcast of the message to the public, not only to practice high moral living, but also to not fall into free sexual lifestyles and drug abuse. The minister also highlighted the roles of such organisations in educating the public about AIDS patients so as not to stigmatise them "as this will impede efforts to prevent and cure it".

His Majesty's Government through the Ministry of Health has taken relevant action in handling the AIDS epidemic. Measures include executing health education and awareness programmes on HIV/AIDS through campaigns at national level, ensuring the blood supply is safe, preparing services to AIDS/HIV patients, Anti-viral medicine preparations and counselling and surveying the contemporary trend.

It is estimated that 4.3 million people in the world are newly infected with AIDS, with 65 per cent (2.8 million) occurring in the Sub-Saharan region of Africa. The most obvious trend is in Eastern Europe and Central Asia where research has shown that the rate of infections had increased to more than 50 per cent since 2004. This year alone, some 2.9 million have died of HIV and AIDS or due to AIDS-related illnesses.

What further worries the world is that there is at present no vaccine that can cure AIDS patients. For that matter, prevention and control towards HIV infection is important to stop the infection from spreading further.

Of the 30 locals reported to have contracted HIV and AIDS, 21 are males and the rest females. Eighty per cent of them are between 20 to 49 years old, the minister disclosed, citing sexual transmission as the most common case. Of the total, 17 of them have died due to HIV and AIDS.

The guest of honour was earlier welcomed on arrival at the gathering by the Chairperson of the Brunei Darussalam AIDS Council - Datin Hjh Edah bte Hj Mohd Noor. Also present were senior government officers, invited guests, government agencies, non-government and private sector organisations and several students from education institutions including STPRI, Maktab Duli Pengiran Muda Al-Muhtadee Billah and Sayyidina Abu Bakar Secondary School. The theme of this year's World AIDS Day is "You, Me and Us".

The daylong event also featured a forum entitled "The speciality of being youthful" that was chaired by Datin Hjh Adinah bte Othman - Director of Community Development, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. The panel was made up of Dyg Hjh Hasnah bte Hj Omar of the Islamic Dakwah Centre, Dyg Hjh Gambar bte Hj Gapar of STPRI and lastly Dyg Lailatul Zubaidah bte Hussain of the State Judiciary Department. There was also a small exhibition to complement the day's event. The first World AIDS Day was marked on December 1, 1988 and has since been held as a yearly event.

8/October/2006

Brunei Darussalam AIDS Council Launches Website

Bandar Seri Begawan - The Brunei Darussalam AIDS Council (BDAC) recently launched its new website at www.bdac.ws.

The new website is in line with the council's aim to assist in educating and creating awareness amongst every individual in the country on HIV/AIDS and its prevention while assisting those infected and affected with HIV/AIDS.

The new website provides a more useful and convenient form of information retrieval for the public on HI V/AIDS. It also includes information on HIV/AIDS among youths and women as well as myths versus facts on HIV/AIDS. BDAC was officially registered on July 22, 2000 after discussions of the Council of Women of Brunei Darussalam on October 1997.

The council hopes that the website will be able to reach out to those with queries and those in doubt about HIV/AIDS in general. "It is important to keep in mind that HIV/AIDS symptoms are almost identical to those of many other illness, so that is why getting tested is the only way to know for sure.

"Very often people who have symptoms similar to those of HIV/AIDS worry unnecessarily. Only by taking the HIV test can someone reliably know his or her HIV status. Everything else is just guessing and HIV is too important of an issue to leave to chance," said a spokesperson from BDAC. For more information e-mail enquiry@bdac.ws.  -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

16 June 2006

From left: Rabiatul Adawiyyah, Hjh Hasnah, Datin Hjh Edah and Hjh Rosmah


BDAC holds orientation course for new members

Brunei Darussalam AIDS Council (BDAC) recently held an orientation programme for new members of Penyinar at the auditorium of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien College.

The event, sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) Brunei, involved over 80 participants and was organised by the Penyinar Club, a youth division of BDAC.

The orientation programme, held in conjunction with the current school holiday, is one of the initiatives taken by BDAC to attract more youths to enrol themselves into the council.

The main objective of the event was to heighten awareness of HIV/AIDS issues.

During the event, BDAC President Datin Hjh Edah Hj Mohd Noor said: "We need the youth members' support as they are an asset to the country and are the future leaders.

"It is also important that they know the preventive measures to stop AIDS from spreading."

Also present at the event were representatives of BDAC, Standard Chartered Bank, the principal of SOAS College and the Department of Culture, Youth & Sports.

Last year, BDAC had also held an orientation in June, where more than 100 students from a number of higher educational institutions took part.

Most of these participants remain active members and have continued their efforts in spreading the word about the harmful effects of AIDS.

To date, Penyinar comprises over 60 active members ranging from those aged 14 to 25 years old.

Penyinar, established in 2001, disseminates a number of skills which include developing leadership skills, teamwork, trust and communication.

Guest of honour delivering a speech


The recent AIDS Awareness Project successfully drew the participation of 100 volunteers. The leaflet trail was organised by the Penyinar Club, which is a youth group under the Brunei Darussalam AIDS Council (BDAC).

BDAC is a self-funded, non-government organisation whose mission is to provide educational and preventive programmes to stop the spread of HIV by increasing public awareness and understanding the disease and its transmission.

Last year, Penyinar Club organised an AIDS Awareness Campaign themed 'Say No to AIDS, Keep Your Promise.'

This year, they distributed leaflets on the deadly disease.

The guest of honour at the AIDS Awareness Project was Haji Abdul Malik bin Muhammad from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.

He pointed out that the project is important not only in giving experience to volunteers but also in raising AIDS awareness.

The leaflet speaks against discrimination of AIDS victims and on preventive measures against AIDS.

The campaign saw volunteers heading to Gadong to sell red ribbons signifying the global symbol of AIDS Awareness, while collecting donations to raise funds.

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Ahad - Kempen kesedaran penyakit maut dan tiada penawar AIDS dipertingkatkan dengan kempen dan promosi kepada orang ramai yang mungkin belum faham benar mengenai penyakit itu.

Serentak dengan itu Kelab Penyinar Majlis AIDS Brunei Darussalam hari ini menganjurkan aktiviti Jelajah Risalah dengan anggota-anggota kelab berjalan kaki di kawasan Gadong dan mengedarkan risalah mengenai AIDS kepada orang ramai.

Kira-kira 40 orang anggota telah menyertai aktiviti itu dan mereka memberikan reben merah kepada sesiapa saja yang menderma kepada tabung AIDS Kelab Penyinar.

Aktiviti yang bermula awal pagi tadi itu dirasmikan oleh wakil Jabatan Belia dan Sukan, Awang Haji Abdul Malik Haji Mohammad yang meluahkan rasa bangga dengan penganjuran projek berkenaan yang keseluruhannya oleh kalangan remaja dan belia.

Menurutnya, usaha seperti itu bukan saja menampakkan hasrat yang sangat bermakna kepada orang ramai tetapi juga kepada anggota kelab itu sendiri.

"Usaha-usaha untuk menyedarkan kepada penyakit ini perlu sentiasa diadakan," tambahnya sambil berkata bahawa penyakit maut itu tidak dibendung negara akan menanggung banyak kerugian dalam bentuk kewangan dan tenaga kerja.

Dengan penganjuran projek itu akan mewujudkan keakraban dan kerjasama dalam satu pasukan di kalangan anggota yang terlibat, tambahnya.

Aktiviti Jelajah Risalah yang diadakan bermula pukul 10 pagi hingga 3 petang itu antara lain bertujuan untuk menimbulkan kesedaran mengenai AIDS di kalangan orang ramai.

20/April/2006

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Rabu - Prosedur menapis tahap kesihatan pekerja asing sebelum datang ke negara ini dan pemeriksaan kesihatan setiap dua tahun sebelum pembaharuan pas kerja adalah antara langkah pengawalan dan pencegahan jangkitan HIV/AIDS di negara ini.

Timbalan Menteri Kesihatan Pehin Dato Paduka Awang Haji Hazair Haji Abdullah berkata kementerian berkenaan juga menjalankan pemantauan dan ujian ke atas darah yang didermakan oleh orang ramai dan bekalan darah yang diimport bagi memastikan darah dan bahan darah itu bebas HIV/AIDS.

Menurutnya Brunei sudah menguatkuasakan Akta Penyakit Berjangkit 2003 yang menghendaki setiap kejadian penyakit berjangkit yang berbahaya seperti HIV/AIDS dilaporkan kepada pihak berkuasa kesihatan.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika berucap merasmikan penyerahan anak kunci ruang Bank Standard Chartered kepada Majlis AIDS Negara Brunei Darussalam di cawangan bank berkenaan di Gadong yang akan dijadikan ruang pejabat Pusat Majlis AIDS Brunei Darussalam.

Beliau berkata dalam menangani ancaman bahaya penyakit HIV/AIDS dan penyakit berjangkit lain seperti SARS, Selesema Burung dan denggi serta penyakit kronik yang tidak berjangkit, sokongan padu daripada orang ramai, badan bukan kerajaan dan sektor swasta amat diperlukan di samping rawatan formal.

Katanya amalan gaya hidup sihat adalah benteng barisan hadapan yang sangat berkesan dalam mengurangkan ancaman dan risiko penyakit kronik dan penyakit berjangkit di negara ini.

"Penyerahan ruang bangunan bank berkenaan kepada Majlis AIDS Negara Brunei Darussalam menunjukkan keprihatinan sektor swasta untuk menyokong dan membantu pertubuhan bukan kerajaan menangani isu sosial seperti HIV/AIDS," ujarnya.

Pertubuhan Kesihatan Sedunia (WHO) menganggarkan seramai 40 juta penduduk dunia dijangkiti HIV/AIDS tapi jangkitan penyakit di kalangan penduduk tempatan negara ini secara relatif berada pada tahap rendah.

Menurutnya bagi tempoh 1986 hingga 2005, sebanyak 657 kes jangkitan HIV/AIDS dilaporkan di negara ini dengan 28 daripada jumlah itu membabitkan penduduk tempatan tetapi jumlah ini adalah di tahap rendah.

Sementara itu, sebanyak 23 kes kematian disebabkan HIV/AIDS dengan 17 darinya membabitkan penduduk tempatan dan mereka yang dijangkiti di negara ini berumur antara 20 tahun dan 49 tahun.

Penyerahan ruang bank disempurnakan dengan penyerahan replika kunci ruang Bank Standard Chartered itu oleh Pehin Dato Paduka Awang Haji Hazair kepada Presiden Majlis AIDS Datin Haji Edah Haji Mohd Noor.

AIDS/HIV Awareness Workshop at Berakas School

Among its participants were 40 student members of the AIDS Awareness Club. According to Noriani Hj Badzawie from the school's counselling department, the workshop was the second such event to be held by BDAC there with an aim of creating awareness on the subject among the younger generation.

Various activities - including quizzes, presentations on global statistics and role-playing to show discrimination of AIDS sufferers in communities - were also held.

9/Januari/2006
 

Kelab Penyinar Bergotong-royong di KACA

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Ahad - Seramai 17 orang ahli Kelab Penyinar hari ini bergotong royong membersihkan kawasan dan peralatan Persatuan KACA di Kampung Kiulap.

Kelab Penyinar adalah sebuah kelab belia di bawah naungan Majlis AIDS Brunei Darussalam (BDAC). Objektif utama kelab adalah untuk menyebarkan kesedaran mengenai bahaya penyakit AIDS kepada orang ramai terutamanya remaja.

Di samping itu juga kelab ditubuhkan untuk memastikan remaja akan mengamalkan cara hidup sihat serta berusaha melakukan kerja-kerja amal.

Menurut salah seorang ahli kelab, Iswandy, kerja pembersihan KACA adalah sebahagian daripada initiatif kelab untuk membantu mereka yang kurang bernasib baik dan juga untuk mengalakkan orang ramai turut serta dalam kerja-kerja amal.

Iswandy juga menyatakan bahawa kelab sentiasa merangka program menyebarkan kesedaran bahaya AIDS dan juga kerja-kerja amal.

Sehubungan itu beliau berkata kelab bersedia membantu mana-mana pihak yang memerlukan bantuan secara percuma.

Penyinar akan menyambut ulang tahun penubuhannya yang kelima pada 15 Jun depan ia kini dianggotai kira-kira 60 ahli yang aktif berusia dalam lingkungan 14 hingga 25 tahun.

KACA diketuai oleh Haji Awang Abdul Alim Haji Awang Othman dan disokong oleh Presiden BDAC, Datin Hajah Edah Haji Md Noor. Orang ramai yang ingin mengenali dengan lebih dekat kelab itu boleh melayari laman web di alamat www. freewebs.com/bdac_penyinar.

9/January/2006

Penyinar Club Members Clean Up KACA Centre

Bandar Seri Begawan – Brunei Darussalam AIDS Council (BDAC) not only organises HIV or AIDS related activities but also takes part in other community projects to enhance the wellbeing of the people in the country.

This is shown by members of Penyinar Club of BDAC who gathered at KACA Centre to help out in cleaning up the vicinity of the centre.

According to the group leader, Md. Zulfadhli of BDAC, the community work involving over 20 Penyinar Club members is just one of the many community projects undertaken by the club so far.

Such projects are aimed at providing assistance to the needy in the society while enhancing awareness on the need of the less privileged people in the community.

More projects will be organised this month by the club including HIV/AIDS workshops in various schools in the country. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

3/12/2005

BDAC launches life skills training

Brunei Darussalam Aids Council (BDAC) launched the Level Training on Life Skills and Principles being attended by 40 participants from Dec 2-5.

Datin Hjh Adina Haji Othman, Director of Community Development from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, said such training will encourage participants to discover and develop their own personalities while boosting their mental, physique and spiritual abilities.

Participants should also take the opportunity to help the community by educating themselves in various aspects as the future leaders for tomorrow, she added.

The three-day training is organised by the Brunei Darussalam Aids Council with support from BLNG.

2/12/2005

28 Locals Infected By HIV/AIDS

Bandar Seri Begawan - Of The 28 locals infected by HIV/AIDS, mostly through sexual intercourse, 17 have died, the Minister of Health revealed yesterday.

29/09/05

3/10/05

Brunei Darussalam AIDS Council Hosts Anniversary Bazaar

Bandar Seri Begawan - The Brunei Darussalam AIDS Council hosted a bazaar marking its 5th anniversary around the vicinity of D'Anggerek Service Apartments in Berakas. The event was coorganised by D'Anggerek Hotel.

The event saw a variety of attractive items for sale as well as some activities for the young children.

Booths featuring food items, balloons, second hand branded products, colourful fabric, fun and games station were available for all on that day.

Young children at the event also had the opportunity to participate in the variety of activities available such as games & inflatable bouncers.

The one-day event was held from Sam to 5pm.

20/9/2005

11/9/05

Brunei Darussalam AIDS Council celebrates 5th anniversary

Bandar Seri Begawan - The Brunei Darussalam AIDS Council (BDAC/Penyinar) last night celebrated its 5th anniversary with a gala night.

The celebration is a part of the council's activities.

Attended as the guest of honour is BDAC/Penyinar President, Datin Hajjah Edah Hj Md Noor. The night's celebration consists of giving out a souvenir from Kelab Penyinar to President of BDAC, souvenir from BDAC Football Team to Coach Ibrahim, lucky draw, best dress award & perfomances from a local band named The Wanted & also from the members of BDAC themselves.

The celebration was held at D'Anggerek Hotel.

BDAC/Penyinar was formed on 22/July/2000 where its main objectives is to create HIV/AIDS awareness among the Brunei society.

Penyinar Hosts Family Fun Day

Bandar Seri Begawan - Members of Penyinar from the Brunei Darussalam Aids Council hosted a family fun day yesterday around the vicinity of D'Anggerek Service Apartments in Berakas.

The event saw a variety of attractive items for sale as well as some activities for the young children.

Over 30 booths featuring food items, balloons, second hand branded products, colourful fabric, fun and games station were available for all on that day.

Members of Penyinar were also on hand to present their unique booths to collect funds for the Brunei Darussalam Aids Council.

Young children at the event also had the opportunity to participate in the variety of activities available such as pony rides, games, face painting and inflatable bouncers.

The one-day event was held from Sam to 5pm.

4/9/2005

Penyinar Holds Family Day 

Bandar Seri Begawan - Members of Penyinar from the Brunei Darussalam AIDS Council will be hosting a family day today (September 4), from 8am to 5pm, at D'Anggerek Service Apartment.

The even will present a number of stalls selling a variety of items such as balloons, food items, books, second hand branded goods and many more.

Other activities will also include pony rides; face painting, bouncers land lucky draws.

The event, which is part of Penyinar's annual activities, is aimed at raising funds for the various projects under the Brunei Darussalam AIDS Council.

4/9/2005

ANNOUNCEMENT

Brunei Darussalam Aids Council (BDAC) will hold its 5th Anniversary Dinner Celebration on Saturday September 10 at Taman Desa Hall, 6th Floor, D'Anggerek Hotel, Berakas.  The celebration will start at 7.30pm until 12 midnight.

Tickets are available from Hjh Ummi at 2345573, located on the 1st Floor, D'Anggerek Hotel at office hours (B$10.00 for members and B$15 for non-members).  All are welcome to enjoy Live Band performances and lucky draw.  

The guest of honour is Yang Mulia Datin Hjh Edah binti Haji Mohd Noor, BDAC President.

Eye-Opener For Visitors Of Pusat Pengasih

Bandar Seri Begawan - Fourteen members of the Brunei Darussalam AIDS Council (BDAC) recently went on an educational trip to Pusat Pengasih, a drug rehabilitation centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The one-week visit led by BDAC's President, Datin Hjh Edah Hj Md Noor, also had Datin Hjh Rokiah and Hjh Rosmah Hj Hasbollah taking part.

It gave them a better perspective on issues related to drugs abuse and HIV/ AIDS, as well as an insight into the various developments pertaining to rehabilitation programmes.

Pusat Pengasih of KL is one of a kind in the region, as it is fully operated by reformed addicts, including some HIV positive individuals.

It has helped people from all walks of life, from as far as Indonesia, Maldives and Pakistan. Among them were royalties, doctors, lawyers, celebrities and students.

The tour's highlight was a talk in which they shared their very personal experiences.

The visitors were also given an exclusive opportunity to see the headquarters of Malaysia AIDS Council, where they were welcomed by its Executive Director, Nik M Fahmee and told more than 65,000 individuals have already been reported to be living with the deadly disease, including women and youths.

They continued their visit to Rumah Solehah, an orphanage for children aged two months to 10 years, who have been diagnosed with HIV and also met with some struggling mothers.

The entire trip was a real eye-opener for BDAC's members that taught them the importance of caring for the less fortunate and the great-dangers-of drugs abuse.

 20/Jun/2005 (Dipetik dari Utusan Malaysia)
Brunei tidak ikut langkah kita beri jarum, kondom percuma

KUALA LUMPUR - Brunei tidak akan mengikuti usaha Malaysia melaksanakan program pemberian jarum dan kondom ke arah menangani penularan HIV dan AIDS.

Yang Dipertua Majlis AIDS Brunei (BAC), Datin Edah Mohd. Nor berkata, pihaknya percaya teknik mendidik serta penerapan nilai-nilai agama yang bermula pada usia muda mencukupi untuk tujuan itu.

Katanya, jumlah penduduk Brunei yang kecil menyebabkan hanya segelintir sahaja yang disahkan positif HIV dan menghidap AIDS.

"Walaupun statistik terbaru belum dikeluarkan, kami difahamkan peningkatannya tidak begitu membimbangkan untuk diklasifikasikan sebagai keadaan yang mudarat.

"Kami mengambil pendekatan kesedaran bukannya dengan memberikan kondom secara percuma kerana tidak mahu dianggap sebagai bentuk galakan," katanya selepas mengadakan lawatan di Rumah Persatuan Pengasih Malaysia (Pengasih), di sini hari ini.

Beliau mengulas langkah kerajaan Malaysia untuk mengagihkan jarum suntikan, kondom dan metadon secara percuma dalam jangka masa enam bulan sebagai percubaan.

Berdasrakan statistik anggaran masalah AIDS dan HIV sehingga penghujung 2003 yang dikeluarkan Program Bersama Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu mengenai HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Brunei hanya mencatatkan kurang daripada 200 kes.

14/June/2005
New Brunei AIDS Council Members Attend Orientation

Bandar Seri Begawan - Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Science College in Jalan Muara recently hosted the 2005 Brunei Darussalam AIDS Council's (BDAC) orientation programme to give new members an opportunity to foster ties and exchange views with senior BDAC members.

On hand to officially launch the event was BDAC President Datin Hajah Edah binti Haji Mohamed Noor.

Activities organised during the orientation were aimed at helping members develop leadership and team-building skills, and to expose them to HIV/AIDS awareness programmes. There were also discussions on how to promote and enhance the message of HIV/AIDS awareness

Meanwhile, BDAC Vice President Datin Paduka Hjh Rokiah binti Hj Zakiah was on hand to officiate the closing of the orientation.

BDAC was established in the country in 2000 under the leadership of Datin Hjh Edah. It is anon-governmental organisation that aims to disseminate a more reliable information on HIV/AIDS for members of the public while providing moral and other support for those affected by the disease in the country.

10/May/2005
AIDS Roadshow AT RBPF Headquarters

Bandar Seri Begawan - Over 200 officers from the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) attended a roadshow organised by the Brunei Darussalam Aids Council (BDAC) to promote awareness on HIV/AIDS at the RBPF Hassanal Bolkiah Hall in Gadong.

The event was part of the activities organised by BDAC to disseminate information on HIV/AIDS.

Present at the event was the President of BDAC, Datin Edah Hj Mohd Noor, along with the Assistant Police Commissioner, Hjh Sharifah Salmah bte Dato Syed Alkaff, Acting Deputy Director of Logistics of the Royal Brunei Police Force.

During the event RBPF personnel were also given a brief presentation on HIV/AIDS by Datin Paduka Hjh Rokiah bte Hjh Zakiah and Jaliha bte Hj Momin.

Among the topics discussed at the presentation during the road show were the rising statistics of the global spread of HIV/ AIDS especially among women and children, precautionary methods as well as the roles of BDAC in the country.

Since its establishment, BDAC under the leadership of Datin Edah, continues to hold various seminars and road shows in government sectors and other areas to promote the awareness of the growing disease that has affected millions of lives around the world.

On top of that, BADC, a non-profitable organisation, also holds various activities including charity bazaars and other charity events for a good cause.

10/May/2005
AF2 Stars Thank Fans For Support

Bandar Seri Begawan - The stars of Akademi Fantasia 2 (AF2) thanked their die-hard local fans for their support during an exclusive Meet-the-fans session held at Sheraton Utama hotel yesterday.

Sheraton Utama organised the Meet-the-fans session with the group Ruffedge and the top five Akademi Fantasia 2 students following their successful Charity Dinner held at ICC the night before.

The session saw about 200 of their biggest local fans cheer on their favourite artistes. The fans also took the opportunity to take photographs with the stars.

Sheraton Utama was the official hotel for the Charity Dinner. The artistes were brought in by Suri Salma Services for the Charity Dinner held in aid of the Brunei Darussalam AIDS Council.

Bandar Seri Begawan - Ruffedge, Dayang Nurfaizah and Akademi Fantasia 2 cast - Bob, Kaer, Zahid, Linda Farah and Adam - are set to perform at a charity dinner for Brunei Darussalam Aids Council on May 14 at the Plenary Hall, International Convention Centre in Berakas.

Organised by Suri Salma Services, the event is aimed at raising funds for the aids council.

Among the stars to grace the event will be Ruffdege, Dayang Nurfaizah and six of the AF2 stars - Bob, Kaer, Zahid, Adam, Farah and Linda.

Tickets for the charity dinner are available at the 1st floor of The Mall, CoffeeZone branches at Kiulap, Gadong Properties Centre and at the Centrepoint in Gadong as well as Food Zone from May 4 till May 10 only.

For enquiries, contact 8675808 or 8666808.

2/May/2005
Local youths raise AIDS awareness in leaflet trail

Over 60 youths comprising members of the Brunei Darussalam Aids Council (BDAC) as well as other volunteers participated in the biggest ever HIV/AIDS leaflet trail in the country.

On hand to mark the start-off at the event at the outdoor fountain area of the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Complex was the President of BDAC, Datin Hjh Edah Hj Mohd Noor.

According to Liyana Imani Abd Latif, Chairperson of BDAC, the youths were divided into groups, each group distributing the leaflets around various commercial areas in and around the capital including the Yayasan SHHB Shopping Centre and The Mall in Gadong before ending the trail back in Bandar Seri Begawan in the afternoon.

The aim of distributing leaflets containing information on HIV/AIDS from the Ministry of Health was to extend vital knowledge to members of the public on the facts of the global disease that has affected millions of lives.

BDAC under the leadership of Datin Hjh Edah Hj Mohd Noor was initially founded in 2000 with the aim of providing awareness to the public on the importance of understanding HIV and AIDS and its transmission.

The roles of the council are also to provide cooperation with the Ministry of Health and other government agencies and the community as well as to provide support and counselling to those living with HIV/AIDS, said Liyana Imani.

"Apart from that, BDAC has also set up several bodies including the PRS or Peer Counsellors, AIDS awareness road shows and workshops, charity events as well as various related activities and events in the country and overseas," she added.

To further educate its members on the subject, the council occasionally sends its team counsellor leaders to attend various AIDS seminars and courses overseas.

Together with the rest of the world, Brunei Darussalam on December 1 last year marked World Aids Day with the theme 'Women, Girls and HIV/AIDS'.

According to reports, over 40 million people around the globe have been infected of which women and young girls are 2.5 times more susceptible to the disease than men.

Reported cases have accumulated that social problems have resulted in the increasing rate of women living with HIV/AIDS where in some parts of the world women are not given the rights for education and employment as men.

29/April/2005
'Leaflet Trail" volunteers to raise AIDS awareness

Volunteers will be gathering in the capital this weekend to help raise awareness on Aids by taking part in a 'Leaflet Trail' around Bandar Seri Begawan. Equipped with leaflets, ribbons and collection tins, the volunteers will be blazing a trail in different areas of the capital, distributing information about AIDS.

The event seeks to further raise the general awareness in Brunei on HIV and AIDS, with issues relating to its prevention, how to deal and lend support to AIDS victims. The activity would also shed light on the Brunei Darussalam AIDS Council and the role it plays here in the Sultanate.

The Leaflet Trail will begin at the Outdoor Fountain at the Yayasan Sultan Hj Hassanal Bolkiah Shopping Complex, with an official opening address taking place before volunteers carry out their rounds at the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Complex before conducting similar activities at the nearby Multi-Storey Parking area.

The volunteers would then make their way to the ground floor of The Mall in Gadong, where they will again be looking to distribute as much information as they can to the general public. Later in the afternoon volunteers will then proceed to the PGGMB building in the capital, the final destination of the Leaflet Trail.

For further information regarding the Brunei Darussalam Aids Council e-mail bdac2005@hotmail.com.

21/March/2005
Charity Walkathon Marks World AIDS Day

Bandar Seri Begawan – The World AIDS Day was observed in Brunei with a charity walkathon yesterday.

The event was organised by the Brunei Darussalam's AIDS Council in its continuous effort to drum up public awareness and eradicate the stigma and discrimination towards HIV/AIDS sufferers.

The walkathon was participated in by Pehin Dato Dr Haji Awang Hussain, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, and Permanent Secretaries at the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education as well as senior officials from various government departments and representatives of associations under the Brunei Women's Council.

The men participants walked a distance of three kilometres from the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas.

Among the enthusiastic participants to support the international recognized campaign combating HIV/AIDS was a three-year old girl.

Datin Hajah Edah, the Brunei Aids Council President and the President of Brunei Darussalam's Women Council, was among the women participants, who walked the 2.4 kilometres distance around the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium.

This year's World Aids Day, which falls every December 1, carries the theme "Women, Girls And HIV/Aids".

Some 40 million people worldwide have been infected by the killer Aids.

12/March/2005
BDAC Charity Walkathon

Brunei Darussalam AIDS Council (BDAC) will be holding its first ever charity walkathon on MArch 20 at the Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium in Berakas.

"Members of the public are welcome to participate in the charity event where registration forms are now available at D'Anggerek Hotel in Berakas," said chairperson of the organising committee, Iswandy bin Ahmad.

Around 500 people are expected to participate in the walkathon that covers 3km for men and 2.4km for women.

The charity event is to collect money for the BDAC fund to finance informative programmes organised by the council including roadshows, seminars, youth ambassador training programmes, counsellor training and other programmes for the purpose of public awareness of HIV/AIDS.

"BDAC, a non-profit organisation was initially set up to enhance the awareness of HIV/AIDS through precautionary programmes and share knowledge on the support given to the HIV/AIDS patients," said Hjh Rosmah, the treasurer of BDAC.

BDAC was officially launched on 28 July 2000 and is currently headed by its President of the Executive Committee, Datin Hjh Edah Hj Mohd Noor.

The walkathon is mainly sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank and supported by BLNG as well as Jasra Harrisons Sdn Bhd.

Bandar Seri Begawan - Twenty five cases of HIV and AIDS have been reported in Brunei since the epidemic was found in the country in 1986 and 15 have died, Pehin Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong, the Minister of Health, during the launching of the World AIDS Day at the Banquet Hall of the International Convention Centre yesterday.

Though the figures in Brunei are quite low, the Minister of Health advised not to be complacent with the situation.

The Minister said according to research, women are 2.5 times more vulnerable to the HIV infection than men, where violence against women is one of the major causes or the alarming rate he added.

This year alone, it is estimated that at least 44.6 million people are living with HIV and half of them are women.

It is estimated that half of the cases aged below 25 years will die from the epidemic before reaching the age of 35.

Although a majority of 95 per cent of cases of HIV/AIDS is reported in developing countries, it still can affect individuals of all ages and race all over the world, said Pehin Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Abu Bakar.

This year, the theme chosen for the World Aids Day 2004 `Women, Girls, HIV and AIDS' highlights the alarming rate of women infected with the disease as shown in recent statistics, said Datin Paduka Hajah Rokiah Hj Zakiah, the Chairperson of committee of the organising event.

The phenomenon that has come to the serious attention of several UN, APEC, European Nations and ASEAN countries has made HIV/AIDS the main agenda to tackle globally, she adds.

The event that was also attended by Datin Hajah Edah bin Hj Mohd Noor, the President of the Brunei Darussalam Aids Council (BDAC), also saw the presentation of donation for the BDAC charity funds from Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) presented by Hajah Hasnah Haji Azri, the SCB Head of Human Resources and Corporate Affairs Division.

Hafizi Harun, invited speaker from Pengasih Association of Malaysia, mentions that the rapid spread of the epidemic in any country relies heavily on the attitude and mentality of its community towards the aids awareness campaigns.

A high risk lifestyle are major factors where Malaysia alone has estimated 55,000 individuals living with AIDS since 1986 where at least 3,500 have been reported to have died from the disease.

During the event, several participants of AIDS awareness seminars and workshops organised by BDAC also received their prizes.

Guest of honour of the event, the Minister of Health also proceeded to initial the BDAC World Aids Day 2004 banner and observe several aids awareness exhibitions put up for the event.

2/December/2004
A Third HIV/AIDS Cases in Brunei are Women says Minister

Bandar Seri Begawan – Even though diagnosed cases of HIV/AIDS in Brunei are relatively low, a third of that are women.

Speaking at the launching of the World Aids Day 2004, organized by the Brunei Darussalam Aids Council, Pehin Dato Awang Haji Abu Bakar, the Health Minister, cited some alarming points about this global killer.

As education and information are the best weapons in the fight against this killer virus, this year's theme tried to highlight the fact that all the world over, women simply do not enjoy the same rights and access to employment, property and education as men.

To add insult to injury, women and girls are also more likely to face sexual violence.

The Minister, in his part, went on to explain why women should not suffer this indignation.

As the year ends, some three million people will have already died during the course of this year from the HIV/AIDS virus before World Aid's Day has been celebrated yesterday.

Worldwide, some 40 million people have been infected of which women and young girls are 2.5 times more susceptible to the virus than men.

11/November/2004
Brunei AIDS Council Gets $1,000 Boost

Bandar Seri Begawan - A B$1,000 mock cheque was Wednesday presented to the Brunei Aids Council Fund during a ceremony held at the Desa Anggerek Hotel in Berakas.

Acting on behalf of Cendana International Singapore, Nur Khadijah bte Hj Ismail from Kathis Management & Services handed over the cheque to Brunei Aids Council President Datin Hjh Edah bte Hj Md Noor.

The donation was part of the proceeds collected by Cendana International during the two-day `Upmarket Showcase' event held at the Empire Hotel & Country Club.

The recently held `Upmarket Showcase' brought together over 30 local and foreign exhibitors for the event jointly organised by the Brunei Aids Council and Upmarket Singapore, with support from Kathis Management & Services, Standard Chartered Bank and the Brunei Postal Services.

Nur Khatijah said the `Upmarket Showcase' will again be held in January as the just concluded one had generated good response from the public

20/June/2004
Travel Agencies Take Part In AIDS Awareness Talk

Bandar Seri Begawan - The Brunei Darussalam AIDS Council (BDAC) jointly organised an AIDS talk yesterday morning with the Tourism Unit, Ministry of Industry & Primary Resources.

The talk was part of a continuing effort to provide educational and preventive programmes to the public on HIV and AIDS.

Held at the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, the affair was attended by representatives from travel agencies in the country and the Tourism Unit and BDAC members.

The guest of honour at the event was Haji Md Tali bin Hj Abd Rahman, Head of the Tourism Unit.

At the start of the event, Datin Paduka Hjh Rokiah bte Hj Zakiah, Chairman of Jerayawara BDAC, made a welcoming remark.

A talk followed after which a question and answer session. Mr Bryan Keasberry, Health Education Officer, and Ministry of Health, conducted it.

Since 1986, 25 people have been reported to be diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in the country, out of which 15 have died. Three new cases have been detected since 2002, that is, 2 females and 1 male.

Heterosexual behaviour made up the biggest percentage of the mode of HIV/AIDS transmission with 14 cases, followed by homosexual behaviour with 4, blood products with 2, 1 case was from mother to child, while 4 cases was due to unknown modes of transmission.

The AIDS awareness talk was aimed at the travel agencies and the tourism unit as the risk of HIV/AIDS transmission is higher in other countries.

It is hoped that the talk would help prevent and reduce the risk of Bruneians contracting the virus from overseas and bringing it back into the country.

The BDAC, also known as Penyinar, with the president of the council being Datin Hjh Edah Hj Mohd Noor, continuously aims to enhance the public's awareness and understanding of HIV/AIDS.

29/December/2003
Dozens Join Jog ‘N’ Walk Event For World AIDS Day

Bandar Seri Begawan - More than 40 people took part in a “Jog ‘N’ Walk Red Ribbon” event at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium yesterday morning. The event was organised by the PENYINAR Club in conjunction with the World AIDS Day.

Present as chief guest at the early morning activity was the Vice-President of the Brunei Darussalam AIDS Council, Nellie Dato Paduka Hj Sunny who also led the sporting event.

Also participating were students from the Faculty of the Institute of Medicine, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, who had given their full support in the event.

The Jog ‘N’ Walk was divided into 7 groups of 5. Each group would pay an entry fee of B$50, the proceeds of which would be added to the fund.

Ak Mohd ZulFadli bin Pg Hj Mohd Yusop, one of the organisers announced that the event had succeeded in collecting as much as B$1500.

Prizes were later presented to the group winners of the event. A lucky draw was also held with many more prizes given away.

27/December/2003
Leaflet Trail Held To Drum Up Public Awareness On HIV/AIDS

Bandar Seri Begawan – Brunei Darussalam Aids Council has arranged a leaflet trail and the sale of red ribbons held in three major shopping complexes in Bandar Seri Begawan yesterday.

Theactivities were held n conjunction with World Aids Day 2003 celebration.

Such activity is to spread information to drum up awareness about HIV/AIDS to the public.

The 'Penyiar Club' members of Brunei Darussalam Aids Council handed out the AIDS/HIV leaflets to the public.

The council also invited the public to donate generously by purchasing the red ribbon for just $1 each and to learn as much about HIV/AIDS prevention.

Apart from raising public awareness on this deadly disease, this event also inculcated the sense of generosity, especially among children for a good cause.

Among the donors was a four-year-old girl, Khairun Nissa Amalin Binti Bolhassan.

For $1 donation to the council, she got the AIDS red ribbon.

The ribbon is the global symbol for solidarity with HIV positives and people living with AIDS. It unites the people in the common fight against this disease.

Eight-year old Abdul Azim Bin Haji Sazali also donated $1 to the council.

The red ribbon mascot was also presented to accompany the group on the trail.

With the cooperation of the Ministry of Health, Brunei Darussalam Aids Council spread messages and information relating to the dangers and awareness of the disease and its transmission.

This coming Sunday, the Council will hold a red ribbon jog and walk at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium at 6am.

18/December/2003
Action plan to beat AIDS stigma

Some 60 youths from PENYINAR Club took some time out of their school term holiday to participate in a convention for youth counsellors. It was launched yesterday morning at the Sport Village in Berakas and will draw to a close tomorrow.

Organised by the Brunei Darussalam AIDS Council and supported by the Youth and Sports Department as well as Standard Chartered Bank, the Youth Counsellor Convention was held in conjunction with World AIDS Day.

Present as guest of honour was Datin Hajah Edah Haji Mohd Noor, the President of the Brunei Darussalam AIDS Council. She pointed out that the convention aims to enhance the standard of counselling by PENYINAR members who will work closely with other youths. They are expected to educate others about preventive measures against HIV/AIDS.

The convention, she said, is part of a continuous course from the previous training that PENYINAR Club members had recently completed.

Norafizah binti Anuar, one of the participating youths, said that the convention will be a good experience for her to learn more about counselling, as she wishes to help friends and people who might have problems.

Norafizah, who is also a PENYINAR Club member, joined the organisation last year. She was one of the few who was chosen to take part in the club by her school, Sayydina Ali Secondary School in the Belait District.

Since she joined the club, she has learnt a lot about AIDS and even had the opportunity to talk to HIV/AIDS sufferers in the country. She learned to treat the patients without stigma and discrimination.

She added that most people in Brunei lack the correct information about HIV/AIDS. As a result, most of the people are afraid of AIDS sufferers. She hopes that she can help solve this problem and increase awareness about AIDS by relaying the right information about the disease.

Among the programmes of the convention are group discussions, debates on 'Action Plan', a cultural night as well as speeches by an invited speaker from PROSTAR Club in Johore, Malaysia.

16/December/2003
Brunei marks World AIDS Day

About 40 millions people in the world are living with HIV/AIDS and the Asia-Pacific region including Southeast Asia has the third largest number of people with HIV/AIDS infection.

Brunei Darussalam is no exception. The first HIV/AIDS case was detected in 1986 and since then 24 more patients had been registered with the latest case reported in November this year. The two main causes of transmission are sexual intercourse and the sharing of needle by drug addicts.

This was disclosed by the guest of honour, Dr Hajah Kalsom Abd Latif, speaking on behalf of the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health, Dato Paduka Awang Haji Zainal Haji Momin, at the official opening ceremony of the World AIDS Day 2003 celebration organised by Brunei Darussalam AIDS Council at the International Convention Centre in Jalan Berakas yesterday morning.

She added that the theme of this year World AIDS Day celebration highlighted on stigmatisation and discrimination, the two very important issues that have increased the burden of not only the HIV/AIDS patients but also their family members.

The theme "Stigma and Discrimination: Live and Let's Live" hopes to eliminate the stigma and discrimination against HIV/AIDS patients through education and greater public awareness on HIV/AIDS.

The guest of honour said that effort to create a greater public awareness on HIV/AIDS and the prevention of the disease has to include all levels of the society through the means of health education.

Meanwhile, in her opening address, Puan Nellie Dato Paduka Haji Sunny, the Chairperson for the ceremony cum the Vice President of the Brunei Darussalam AIDS Council, announced that the Council will introduce "PENYINAR" with the aim of providing the correct information to those who have no ideas about HIV/AIDS as well as to give hopes to HIV/AIDS patients.

She also thanked Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) for getting its staff involved in "Living With HIV/AIDS" programme. The bank also helped collect contribution for the Council at all its branches on December 1.

The highlights of the yesterday's function were the official launch of the World AIDS Day celebration by Dr Hjh Kalsom Abd Latif and the donation of $1,000 by Standard Chartered Bank to Brunei Darussalam AIDS Council.

On behalf of SCB, Hjh Hasnah Hj Azri presented the cheque to Datin Hjh Edah Hj Mohd Noor, the President of Brunei Darussalam AIDS Council.

The guests also witnessed a drama performance on this year's theme by SCB staff and heard a testimony from a Malaysian HIV patient.