Fridae

A benefit dinner to be held on April 1 at The Four Seasons hotel in Singapore has raised approximately S$250,000 (US$154,300) for Action for AIDS, a non-governmental organisation which carries out AIDS/HIV public health education, testing, prevention and support.

Organised by the AfA Endowment Fund, A.O.C. for AIDS is named after the guest chef, Suzanne Goin, the award-winning Californian chef-proprietress of A.O.C. and Lucques in Los Angeles. Attendees can also bid at an exclusive auction for an original drawing by Henri Chen, a selection of Four Season's getaways and a piece of Pomellato jewellery.

Speaking to Fridae, Nicholas Chan who is the co-chair of the event and a Trustee of the Endowment Fund explained that in addition to raising funds for AfA, the benefit would also highlight the existence and role of the Endowment Fund in relation to the organisation.

A.O.C. for AIDS is the first fundraising event that has been organised for the Endowment Fund. Some of the 300 attendees expected include personal friends of the chairs of the event as well as corporate entities including banks, law firms, medical and pharmaceutical companies "who have independently expressed their beliefs in supporting the causes that AfA and the Endowment Fund embody," revealed Chan.

The AfA Endowment Fund is for the purpose of educating the general public understanding of AIDS and HIV infection, alleviation of sufferings of persons with, promoting research in all fields and supporting welfare activities suffering of persons with, AIDS/HIV medication subsidy programmes.

AfA's first benefit dinner in 1997, which was to be graced by the late Princess Diana, raised over S$1 million.

Fridae's CEO Dr Stuart Koe is a trustee of the AfA Endowment Fund.

Keep AIDS on the front burner: Assoc Prof Roy Chan, President of AfA
When asked what the gay community, society and relevant public health agencies can do in the fight against HIV/AIDS, Assoc Prof Roy Chan, President of AfA, hopes for each and every stakeholder to do its part in educating its own target audience.

"Keep AIDS on the front burner. Talk about it at home, at work, with friends and in groups."

"MSM are at the highest risk of contracting HIV infection (several times more so than heterosexuals)" but he says MSM/gay individuals, leaders, organisations and businesses in Singapore are not doing enough to prevent HIV transmission.

In the latest MSM survey by AfA in 2004, it was reported that almost two out of five sexually active respondents had had unprotected sex with either a regular or casual partner in the previous four weeks. The likelihood was higher with a regular partner but one in five had engaged in unprotected anal sex with a casual partner.

"We continue to diagnose HIV infection among MSM - both young and old. Each and every one of these infections could have been prevented if individuals made the right decisions and took the necessary precautions."

"Gays and MSM cannot continue to cite legal and structural obstacles as reasons or excuses for the increasing numbers of HIV infections in the community," said Assoc Prof Chan.