Rumah Solehah was established in June 1978 to provide shelter and protection for women infected and affected by HIV/AIDS who were neglected and homeless. It was established under the auspices of the Ministry of Health, STD/AIDS Department. The Ministry had assigned an NGO, the Islamic Medical Association of Malaysia (which is affiliated to the Malaysian Aids Council), to oversee the home. In the third year, the home started to take in children as well. Currently, the home is independently run by a woman named Puan Wan. She manages the home on a full time basis. Each year, Rumah Solehah will make an application to the Ministry for their yearly allowance. So far, the highest amount received by the home was RM50,000.00 per year. According to Puan Wan, the yearly allowance allocated to the home is insufficient for the expenses incurred by the residents. The home has to raise funds and to source for sponsorship particularly for vitamin supplements and diapers for the children, which can be very costly. A variety of supplements is crucial for the residents to stay healthy. There are 7 women living there, out of which 6 are HIV positive patients. Some are alone and some have children in the home. What is certain is that they have all been rejected by their own families, regardless of how they were inflicted with the HIV virus in the first place. There are 12 children ranging from 1 - 7 yrs. There are 9 who are confirmed HIV positive, and 3 who are negative. The liveliness of the children belies their background, whereby some of them were abandoned at birth and some whose parents have passed away because of AIDS. The residents of this home are all Muslim. A resident of the home has made significant contributions in HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns throughout Malaysia by sharing with the public her struggles and achievements as a HIV positive patient. This woman has been with Rumah Solehah for the past 10 years, and is now 49 years old. She is still healthy and very active.

Appeal for Contribution to Rumah Solehah

THE ROTARACT CLUB OF KUALA LUMPUR would be having a Hari Raya Puasa celebration together with the residents of Rumah Solehah on the 29th November 2003, at No. 3, Jalan Makmur 3, Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras. Therefore, we would be looking forward for donations/contributions from the G&S members to sponsor a simple lunch for the residents of Rumah Solehah on the mentioned date. We would greatly appreciate if you would consider working with us and Rumah Solehah to address their immediate needs. We are confident that your contribution, no matter how slight, will go a long way to helping the residents of this home. For more information on the above mentioned event and those interested to contribute, please do not hesitate to contact us at iemgs@yahoo.com or call Mr. Suresh Yegambaram (012-3059967)/Mr. Yau Chau Fong (012-3882570) latest by 17th November 2003(12.00 noon).

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