The year under review was a meaningful one for us, our service strategy, “Step out and Reach” was mapped out to connect explicitly to our defined mission; to strengthen our member’s confidence and to enhance their self-motivation.
It was a year in which our services and programs continue to foster and clients under our care demonstrated great achievements especially in the area of self development. Against this backdrop, we were actively organizing different targeted programs to provide members with sustainable development and help, as well as delivering our care and love. HIV/AIDS should not be considered an epidemic among specific group of people and people living with HIV/AIDS should have their right to gain full access to treatment and care. Increasingly, our Society has looked after escalating number of women and children affected. Whilst the epidemic shifted from defined group to the general population, more enhanced efforts are placed in catering for families in need. Regular and targeted programs, such as Quarterly birthday party, Training camp, Festive celebration parties, Outing, Family trip and etc, are organized to provide our members with valuable caring concern, enhance and empower their esteem and self-confidence to face the future. Nevertheless, our home care nurses and physiotherapist provide for the essential care, support and therapeutic programs for the needed.
In China, many children are orphaned because of AIDS. Since last year, we started a new program targeting to provide a caring link between our members and those children who are orphaned in Henan province. Members in the Society initiated the “Sunshine Volunteering Action” program to show their care and love. Our members confirmed their affection through sending faraway blessings and care by making fingerprint bookmarks to the children in summer 2010. Each personalized fingerprint bookmark is unique and could be made at home that allowed our members with different ability to participate as volunteers. The bookmarks were delivered to the children during our Society’s collaboration program in Henan. Our food bank supported by SCMP Operation Santa Claus to improve health of our members draw a close last year. It is our honor to gain funding support by Lee Hysan Foundation for the provision of winter quilts and related winter items to our members to ensure they could cope with the anticipated bitterly cold winter ahead. The provision of these essential items extends our service footprint from health care into complementary life care.
In July this year, together with a patient volunteer, I participated in the 18th International AIDS Conference held in Vienna, Austria. This was such a meaningful and special conference for us as a special empowerment program was designed to enable our patient volunteer to participate in the Conference together.
During the conference, her work involved management of a joint booth in the global village, distribution of our center service leaflet and souvenirs to visitors, and shared her experiences with other volunteers and people living with HIV/AIDS from all over the world. The participation further enhances her self confidence and self-esteem as well as confirmation of the needs for patients to “Step Out and Reach”. It is more than 20 years since the discovery of the epidemic. However, the battle is far from over, I believe, together we can make a real difference, and the Society for AIDS Care will continue to commit our mission to overcome all challenges in future.
Alice Chan
Chief Executive Officer
December 2010 |
