Celebrity chef Datuk Ismail Ahmad and Malaysian AIDS Foundation corporate advisor Yazlan Yahya are the co-chairs of the inaugural #Girlpower Gala Dinner to raise funds for a women empowerment initiative. — Picture by Choo Choy May
MAF corporate advisor and the gala dinner co-chair Yazlan Yahya said the programme’s focus was to aid women and single mothers living with HIV by equipping them with the knowledge and skill sets to start small-scale enterprises and also refer them for suitable jobs with peer support programme. “The public must understand that HIV is not transmitted by touching, hugging or shaking the hand of the person living with HIV,” he said.To overcome the stigma, Ismail said those living with HIV and the public must talk about the disease more and understand it better.