KUALA LUMPUR, March 26 -- The leadership of two prominent women, Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman and Dr Yatela Zainal Abidin, is at the heart of a powerful, decade-long partnership that has become a cornerstone of Malaysia's HIV response, particularly for women and underprivileged communities.

Through their respective roles as chairman of the Malaysian AIDS Foundation (MAF) and CEO of Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD), their collaboration has channelled RM17 million into life-saving HIV care, directly benefiting nearly 200,000 individuals facing stigma, financial hardship, and barriers to treatment.

The strategic alliance began in 2013 when MAF's advocacy arm was at risk. Dr Adeeba, a tireless advocate for health equity, reached ...