The Malaysian Insight continues to feature ordinary Malaysians who make the country a better place. Our focus this week is on Elisha Kor Krishnan, the woman who opened her home to those living with HIV. 

RISTA Nur Marsitah Abdullah was seven months pregnant when she found out that she was HIV positive in 2007.

Then a 27-year-old housewife who rarely left the home, Rista could not believe the news. She said she felt as though her world had come crashing down.

“I was really down at the time. I couldn’t accept that I was infected, and even after I gave birth to my son, I was really stressed.

“I didn’t even want to leave the house,” she told The Malaysian Insight. 

She said she found the strength to carry on after she decided to get involved with programmes for people living with HIV.

Today, Rista is an outreach worker for Pertubuhan Kesihatan dan Kebajikan Umum Malaysia (PKKUM), which runs a drop-in centre for women with HIV. 

Rista said apart from caring for her son, who turned out to be HIV negative, her purpose in life was now built around her ability to help others like her see beyond their troubles and have hope for the future.

PKKUM did not begin begin with a celebration of life, or even hope. It was death that drove Elisha Kor Krishnan to found the drop-in centre.

Almost 14 years ago, Elisha, then a volunteer at Rumah Wake – also a support organisation for people with HIV – was accompanying a client called Nora to the hospital for treatment when Elisha was hit by the shock and reality of death.

“I was telling Nora to hang in there because we were about to see the doctor. I lifted her hand and she responded by holding my hand – and  passed away just like that,” Elisha told The Malaysian Insight. 

She said it was her first experience seeing people die, and it left a deep impression on her. 

“I was still young at the time, I think about 23 years old. I was very sad because she was quite close to me. It made me question why the virus made people (suffer) like that; I couldn’t accept it,” she said.

And so the former architectural designer set out to create a safe space for women with HIV to get a decent shower and a bed, as well as advice on how to care for themselves.

Her three-bedroom apartment turned out to be just that space, and PKKUM was thus launched in 2013.

“(In the beginning), the people I knew conducted support sessions in my house so from day to day, the community grew,” she said. 

The 37-year-old from Sungai Petani, Kedah, said with the help of donations, a larger space in Chow Kit was eventually turned into a better-equipped drop-in centre.

From its humble beginnings, the centre today provides 10 beds and breakfast, lunch and tea. PKKUM also distributes about 2,000 condoms every month to high-risk people through its outreach programmes in places like Petaling Street, Jalan Chow Kit and Jalan Ipoh. 

The organisation’s Peer Support & Empower the Community is a programme funded by the Health Ministry, where outreach workers are based in public hospitals and several clinics to provide support to HIV-positive individuals. 

PKKUM also receives help and support from Malaysian company Karex, the world’s largest condom-maker, and the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council.

The programme is also aimed at increasing awareness of the disease. 

“Our main purpose is to serve people living with HIV but a lot of them dropping by our centre are homeless and jobless. They are part of the high-risk group,” said Elisha.

According to statistics from the Malaysian AIDS Council, there were 12,943 HIV/AIDS deaths in Malaysia from 1986 to 2010.

After more than 10 years in social work, Elisha said she believed that sex education at home was key to preventing HIV transmission through sexual contact.

“The youngest client we have is a 14-year-old. Most parents say they never talk about sex with their children. To me, education is really important and the first step is not in school, it must come from home,” she said.

The drop-in centre, which was reopened on May 23 after the old premises was destroyed in a fire, served about 700 clients last year. The centre is also helping marginalised communities like transgender people with employment at the centre.  

Elisha said her vision was for the centre to provide support for those living with HIV and to be a safe haven for those who are marginalised. She also hopes it will raise public awareness,and compassion for those living with HIV.

She wants the centre to be a symbol of life, especially for those who have lost sight of hope.

“I have seen a lot of people dying because of AIDS,” said Elisha, remembering again the painful moment she saw her friend die.

“That’s why we need a drop-in centre like this… (where) people can touch you in a positive way.” – May 27, 2017.