KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian AIDS Foundation (MAF) says it raised RM1.49mil in funds at the Red Ribbon Gala and Sunway-MAF Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Award 2021 held here Friday (Dec 10).

       MAF chairman Prof Datuk Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman (pic) said, on Saturday (Dec 11), that the funds will be channelled to its Medicine Assistance Scheme, a programme that helps underprivileged Malaysians living with HIV gain access to lifesaving anti-retroviral treatment.

       "We are accelerating our mission to end AIDS as we rebound from Covid-19, which has only reminded us of the grim reality of the early years of the AIDS pandemic when treatment was wishful thinking.

       "Thanks to 40 years of scientific progress, we now have the most powerful tool that can turn the tide on HIV or AIDS for good which is the anti-retroviral treatment," she said.

       She added that MAF will continue to place treatment as the core response, while strengthening political will, financial investment, multi-sectoral collaboration and community engagement to ensure sustainability.

       As MAF’s signature fundraiser, the Red Ribbon Gala commemorated key milestones on the road to ending AIDS by 2030, a shared goal among key stakeholders for Malaysia’s national AIDS response. - Bernama