Centre in limbo after ministry stops allocation

KUALA LUMPUR: Far-reaching implications are expected if SEED Foundation ’s community outreach centre in Chow Kit closes its doors soon.

The centre, known as Pusat Bantuan Khidmat Sosial (PBKS), takes care of the welfare and wellbeing of female and transgender sex workers, people living with HIV and drug users.

The foundation is currently in limbo and will have to shut down PBKS by March as the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry has stopped its annual allocation of RM700, 000 to run the centre.

SEED chairperson Danisha Mohd Tahir said the centre’s clients would have nowhere to go or turn to when the centre ceases operations.

“We have helped thousands of people since we started seven years ago. If the centre closes, we won’t know how to help them,’’ said Danisha when contacted.

She said there were other serious implications that would probably arise with the closure as well.

“When the centre closes, most of the clients will go underground and there won’t be anymore contact tracing.

“This can become a big problem especially in managing and helping those living with HIV,’’ said Danisha.

She said centre’s clients living with HIV, who were mostly homeless and penniless, would also default in taking their medication.

This she said could increase the number of full-blown AIDS cases in the country.

Currently case workers at the centre monitor and guide clients living with HIV by taking them to hospital and ensuring they take their medication on time.

“They don’t have enough money or the means to go to hospital to collect their medicine on their own.

“So, you can imagine what can happen,’’ she added.

Malaysian Aids Council (MAC) honorary secretary Hisham Hussein concurred and explained that the centre’s caseworkers ensure those living with HIV take their medication on the dot daily.

“They are all on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) and must take the medicines at the same time everyday as the level of the drugs must be constant in their system,’’ said Hisham.

He added this was to keep the virus at bay and if the timing lapses, the HIV will acquire resistance against the drugs.

“And the resistance will grow stronger and stronger and if the person infects another person, that person will have a higher resistance to the drug therapy,’’ said Hisham.

He added in view of all these complications, the homeless people living with HIV being cared for by the SEED centre cannot be left on their own without monitoring.

Malaysian Mental Health Association deputy president Datuk Dr Andrew Mohanraj also concurs that the centre’s closure will create serious problems.

“It would likely have a negative psychological impact on the clients who would feel further marginalized.

“This will result in further distress, hopelessness and even suicidal thoughts in an environment that is harsh and judgemental,’’ he added.

Those wanting to contribute to help SEED’s homeless and marginalized clients can do so by directly banking their contributions to:

 

Pertubuhan Pembangunan Kebajikan dan Persekitaran Positif Malaysia (SEED)

CIMB Account No: 8006999903.