Introduction

Counselling & Telephone: 62540212
http://www.afa.org.sg

To find out more about HIV & Syphilis Test... 

AFA Contact List:

Executive Director

Lionel Lee

afa@pacific.net.sg

lionel.lee@afa.org.sg

62540212

Programme and Fundraising Director

Paul Toh

paul.toh@afa.org.sg

62951820

Office Administrator

Lionel Lim

supafa@singnet.com.sg

lionel.lim@afa.org.sg

62540212

Coordinators –  

MSM Programme

James Foong

james.foong@afa.org.sg

91068884

Youth Programme

hivyouthprog@yahoo.com.sg

High Risk Heterosexual Male Outreach Programme

Lionel Lee

lionel.lee@afa.org.sg

96600237

For feedback & comments, or to unsubscribe email to: info@afa.org.sg

Welcome to the October Issue of The Voice!

The almost-end of the year is usually marked by festivals, office parties, D&Ds and what have you. Which reminds me…..I trust you had great Deepavali and Hari Raya celebrations with your family and friends.

 

For all of us involved in HIV/AIDS work, it marks another year in remembering the work done and to also remember the work that needs to be done in our continuing fight against HIV/AIDS.  

 

In Singapore, towards the end of the year, we would observe World AIDS Day by having a walk in or around town. Dressed in our commemorative t-shirts, meeting our friends, rekindling old friendships and wondering where all our time spent together has gone. (And after the walk, it is about makan….)

 

However, in the last few years we have been marking World AIDS Day in a more subtle manner by having information blitzes in the print and broadcast media. It is an effective means of reaching out to and informing Singaporeans (who otherwise might not come to the AIDS Walks) on the HIV/AIDS issues in Singapore and the region.

 

This year we will be having our biennial Singapore AIDS Conference on the day after World AIDS Day. It will be a great opportunity to catch up on the latest happenings in the HIV/AIDS world, to meet with fellow volunteers and HIV/AIDS warriors and most importantly to re-fresh ourselves on what the fight against HIV/AIDS is really about.

 

(Conference message and registration details are appended below, As in previous years, AFA will sponsor the registration fees for volunteers.).

 

I would like to wish you much happiness as you enjoy this issue of The Voice.

 

Please feel free to give us your feedback on any issue related to Action for AIDS, HIV/AIDS in Singapore or if there is something you would like to get off your chest. Please email me at -

benedictthambiah@yahoo.com

 

I offer my thanks to all those who have responded enthusiastically with your suggestions and ‘feedback’. Please keep them coming.

 

~Benedict Thambiah~

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I. 5th Singapore AIDS Conference

Message from the Co-Chairs of the 5th Singapore AIDS Conference

 

Dear friends,

 

Since the last Singapore AIDS Conference (SAC) in 2004 there have been advances on several fronts in the fight to reduce HIV transmission and alleviate the impact of AIDS in our community.

 

There has been renewed vigour and new initiatives in prevention campaigns targeting vulnerable groups and individuals, and new medical treatments in the clinical care of infected persons. It is too early to evaluate the impact of these developments on the epidemiology of HIV or the standard of clinical care of infected individuals. What is clear is that we are far away from the goal of “Universal access to treatment and prevention” set by UNAIDS for all countries and territories.

 

The theme of the 5th SAC is – “HIV in Singapore - The Challenge and The hope”.?

 

We must take stock of where we are now, 25 years after the beginning of the pandemic, and ask the following questions : Have we as a nation done what is needed to stop the epidemic? Have there been enough efforts to overcome AIDS-related discrimination and stigma in our community? Are our treatment and care programmes on par with the standards of care in other countries? Do we provide access to prevention programmes to all sectors of the community? What are the barriers that still stand in the way of implementing effective, equitable and inclusive AIDS control and support programmes, and what do we need to do to overcome them?

 

The SAC is designed for all stakeholders and workers in our collective efforts to address AIDS.

 

We welcome and invite researchers, prevention, care and support experts, community groups and administrators, media representatives and private businesses, activists and health care professionals, infected persons and politicians, to come together on the 2nd of December 2006 to participate in this conference to listen, discuss and debate the issues.

 

This year we welcome the Health Promotion Board as the third organizer of the SAC. HPB has been supportive of the SAC from the first conference, and this year it has taken on a much bigger role in the programme planning.

 

We also welcome clinicians and NGOs from the Riau islands who will present some of their programmes.

 

Mark the date for the 5th SAC, we hope to see you there.

 

A/Prof Roy Chan - Co chair

Dr Benda Ang - Co chair

 

The above message and conference programme is found at http://www.afa.org.sg/sac06.htm

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 II. Digital Arts Against AIDS 2006 - Update

Please be informed that if you would like to participate in the digital Art Against AIDS, you must submit your entry by 13 November 2006.

 

Please refer all enquiries to art.against.aids@afa.org.sg.

For contest updates and important information go to http://www.afa.org.sg/artagainstaids/ .

 

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 III. What's new on www.afa.org.sg?

The AFA website has never been as fresh and up to date as it is today. Please check it out to read up on the

- The Seven Month Itch

- The Latest STI Postcards

- AFA’s new drive to help single women stay HIV negative

- AFA’s Annual Report and Financial Statements FY2005

- The hours and costs for Anonymous HIV and Syphilis Testing and Counselling

 

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 IV. Introduction to Lionel Lee, ED - AfA

Introduction -

Lionel Lee,

Executive Director

Action for AIDS, Singapore

 

Lionel Lee started as a volunteer of AFA by being an active member of the Candlelight Memorial Organising Committee and as a counsellor with the Anonymous HIV Testing and Counselling Site.

 

In 2005, he became the Programme Coordinator for the High Risk Heterosexual Male Outreach Programme. In collaboration with Indonesian based non-government organisations, he helped spearhead outreach programmes to male travellers to the Riau-islands and also to the patrons at local Karaoke bars and pubs.

 

Lionel was also in charge of online outreach in chat rooms and bulletin boards on the Internet.

 

As ED of AFA, Lionel he is looking forward to working with all volunteers and supporters of AFA to bring AFA to a higher level of community presence and involvement.

 

He believes that we have done much as an organisation and he hopes to have your help so that AFA will achieve even more.

 

Lionel hopes to increase training programmes for all volunteers and to have regular volunteer meetings and get-togethers for volunteers to get to know each other.

 

He looks forward to your support.

 

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V. Survey: Singaporean attitudes towards HIV risk & education

Alex Au (www.yawningbread.org) in preparation for the Singapore AIDS Conference would like to invite you to participate in an online survey.

 

The survey is to help gauge the attitudes of Singaporeans gauge towards HIV risk and education.

 

Even as the survey seeks your views on various matters all your responses and identity will be kept confidential.

 

Please help with the survey. It is open to all (straight, gay, male, female...) and if you see fit, please send this invite to your contacts.

The survey is found at – http://plu.sg/poll1/index.php?sid=1

 

If you are not linked to the site directly, please cut and paste the web-link on to your browser.

 

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V. World AIDS Day themes over the years