Innovation 17
July-August . 2024 | The HEALTH
Innovation 17
From left : Chembio Diagnostics Systems , Inc . Chief Financial Officer Atif Rizvi , CDM Director Avijit Roy , Reszon Chief Executive Officer EL Law , and PTF Acting Chief Operating Officer Raymond Tai .
Reducing the HIV stigma
The tri-company initiative empowers communities with HIV self-testing solutions
BY KHIRTINI K KUMARAN
IN a significant move to enhance public health and combat HIV / AIDS , Reszon Diagnostics International Sdn Bhd ( Reszon ) has partnered with PT Foundation ( PTF ) and Chembio Diagnostics Malaysia Sdn Bhd ( CDM ) in a tri-company initiative to make a substantial impact in the fight against HIV / AIDS .
Reszon , a member of Hextar Healthcare Berhad , develops and manufactures innovative in-vitro diagnostics ( IVD ) rapid tests for medical professionals and self-testing sector . Reszon ’ s IVD rapid test kits enable quick and accurate disease diagnosis , which is essential for early detection and prevention .
Reszon Chief Executive Officer EL Law emphasised the significance of this partnership : “ Chembio offers world-class HIV self-testing kits , and we are proud to deliver SURE CHECK ® HIV Self-Test Kits to communities in need through outreach programmes in collaboration with PT Foundation .”
Meanwhile , CDM , a subsidiary of Chembio Diagnostics , Inc ., specialises in developing and commercialising point-of-care tests for infectious diseases , including sexually transmitted diseases , tropical diseases , COVID-19 , and other viral and bacterial infections .
PTF is a community-based , nonprofit organisation providing HIV / AIDS education , prevention , care , support programmes , and sexual health and empowerment initiatives for vulnerable communities in Malaysia .
As the largest community-based HIV / AIDS organisation in Malaysia , PT Foundation has supported over 100,000 people and was a founding member of the
Malaysian AIDS Council ( MAC ).
This collaboration aims to empower communities with accessible HIV selftesting solutions . Chembio Diagnostics Systems , Inc . Chief Financial Officer Atif Rizvi witnessed the Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU ) signing at Reszon ’ s headquarters in Subang Jaya .
CDM Director Avijit Roy added : “ This initiative aligns with our group ’ s aspiration to provide high-quality diagnostics worldwide , reducing the incidence and burden of disease globally .”
COMBINING FORCES FOR ACCESSIBLE DIAGNOSTICS
The MoU leverages PT Foundation ’ s
Key Achievements of the Outreach Event :
• Educational Sessions : Hosted by PT Foundation , these sessions emphasised the importance of knowing one ’ s HIV status , underscoring how early diagnosis can lead to timely medical intervention and improved health outcomes . Special recognition was given to speakers Justin , Ano , and Martin for their contributions .
• Hands-On Experience : Participants had the chance to personally use the SURE CHECK ® HIV Self-Test Kit under expert
SURE CHECK ® HIV Self-Test Kit .
guidance , experiencing its ease of use , convenience , and accuracy firsthand .
• Interactive Q & A : PT Foundation experts answered numerous questions , providing valuable insights and addressing concerns from the attendees , ensuring everyone felt engaged and well-informed .
• Distribution of Free HIV Self-Test Kits : Over 150 SURE CHECK ® HIV Self- Test Kits were distributed , empowering attendees to take charge of their health confidently and ensuring they felt supported and cared for .
Outreach event in Kuala Lumpur .
expertise in HIV / AIDS education and support , CDM ’ s technical proficiency in point-of-care diagnosis , and Reszon ’ s extensive distribution network .
Together , they strive to benefit vulnerable communities and support Malaysia ’ s National Strategic Plan for Ending AIDS . This comprehensive plan aims to reduce the incidence and burden of HIV / AIDS in Malaysia by building sustainable community resilience to HIV / AIDS .
PTF Acting Chief Operating Officer Raymond Tai stated : “ We are committed to collaborating with Reszon and Chembio to expand access to SURE CHECK ® HIV Self-Test Kits . Our ongoing initiatives aim to reduce the stigma associated with HIV and promote proactive health management , including self-testing .”
ENGAGING AND EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY
This collaborative effort materialised through an impactful outreach event in Kuala Lumpur on June 15 , 2024 . The event , organised to raise awareness about HIV and empower the community with self-testing solutions , was a resounding success . – The HEALTH
• Support Services : Attendees were able to connect with the PT Foundation for ongoing support and guidance , ensuring they have access to necessary care services .
The partnership between Reszon , CDM , and PTF marks a significant step forward in improving public health and empowering communities through accessible and reliable HIV self-testing solutions .
It represents a concerted effort to reduce the stigma surrounding HIV and to promote proactive health management .