The Malaysian AIDS Foundation (MAF) has approved an emergency medication subsidy to restart antiretroviral therapy (ART) for a woman living with HIV whose documentation barriers prevented her from accessing treatment.
MAF and the Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC) said it paid Amanda Mei Chu a visit to understand her situation in full after FMT highlighted her plight earlier today.
“Arrangements are being made for referral and re-initiation of ART at a government hospital, with close follow-ups to ensure that there is no further interruption to treatment,” said MAF and MAC in a joint statement.
“Getting her safely back on treatment is the immediate priority.”
Alongside medical care, MAC and MAF said their case managers are supporting Amanda with practical needs, including psychosocial support and links to social assistance.
MAC and MAF also said they would assist Amanda’s family in navigating her documentation and citizenship processes.
“(We) will liaise with the relevant authorities and partner organisations so that administrative issues do not stand in the way of lifesaving care,” they said.
The groups said that modern ART can suppress the HIV virus to undetectable levels, protect health, and allow people living with HIV to lead full, healthy lives when treatment is maintained consistently.
In a FMT report today, Amanda’s adopted father, Dominic Damian, appealed for urgent medical help after she was denied access to government medical aid as she was not recognised as a Malaysian citizen.
For two decades, Amanda attended school and received treatment at Hospital Kuala Lumpur, carrying a hospital card marked warganegara (citizen), which reinforced the family’s belief that she was considered a Malaysian.
In 2017, however, the family was informed that Amanda was not a Malaysian, and her free treatment was withdrawn.
