Padang Terap District

PROSTAR in Padang Terap.

PROgram Sihat Tanpa AIDS untuk Remaja
Our visit to the activities of Prostar was facilitated by Mr. Azlan Hussein. Prostar is a club rather than an organization, which is under the guidance of the Ministry of Health Malaysia.
Main Objectives:
To highlight the dangers of AIDS/HIV to teenagers.
Instill a positive behavior in the teenagers to prevent HIV/AIDS.
To encourage peer support.
2006 there are 27,007 cases of adolescents diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.
Details:
• At the district level, PROSTAR comes under the Health Promotion Unit.
• Mr. Azlan bin Hussein, PPKP, is in charge of the program. With two subordinates who help him run the community centre.
• There is one PROSTAR centre and 7 schools that are active in PROSTAR.
• They join hands with PBSM, PEMADAM, ADK and other Youth NGOs.
Activities:
• There are 6 activities that they run: Motivational Camps
1. Kem Pembimbing Rakan Sebaya (PRS)
2. (Choose good students from all the schools and train them about HIV/AIDS. Each training session lasts 4 days/3 nights.)
3. Talks and exhibitions.
4. Community programs
5. Course for facilitators for those aged 18 and above (NGO)
6. PROSTAR DAY/ AIDS DAY
Budget:
A yearly plan detailing the year’s activities and expenditure must be submitted to the Ministry Of Health before a budget can be approved.
Padang Terap specifically gets RM50,000 per year from the MOH. The budget must be spent exactly, no more or no less lest there be enquiries from the Ministry. Different districts are allocated different amounts according to their needs.
After being treated to a wheelbarrow full of durians, we were taken to the PROSTAR community centre in town which is supervised by Ms Faizah. The facilities and activities available include:
• Tuition Centre
• Cyber Café
• Indoor Games (Karaoke (Ryan you should visit), Carrom, Board games, table tennis, PS2 systems)
• Counseling and discussion centre for youths.
• Health Info Corner
• Satellite television
• Space for rent for activities.
• Bill payment assistance.
While society may consider having a cyber café a negative element, they argue that having the youth in check during these activities better than having them exposed without supervision.
They will be moving to a new premise with more facilities within a month. Due to this moving of premises, the Kuala Nerang outlet of PROSTAR is currently far less active, hence their funding have also been reduced.
Mr. Azlan proceeded to give us his handphone number for any further enquiries, or if you want to go bowling in Alor Setar. Please do call him; he knows a great place for great durians too.