Rujukan: PSLEM/AGM2008
16 Jun 2008

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NOTIS MESYUARAT AGUNG TAHUNAN KE-13

Dengan hormatnya dimaklumkan bahawa Mesyuarat Agung Tahunan Ke-13 Persatuan SLE Malaysia (PSLEM) akan diadakan pada hari Sabtu, 28 Jun 2008 di Dewan Kuliah 1, Kompleks Pendidikan Canselor Tuanku Jaafar, Pusat Perubatan UKM (dahulu Hospital UKM), Bandar Tun Razak, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, mengjkut jadual seperti berikut:

Agenda Mesyuarat Agung Tahunan Ke-13 adalah seperti berikut:

1. Ucapan Presiden PSLEM
2. Mengesahkan Minit Mesyuarat Agung Tahunan Ke-12 yang diadakan pada 30 Jun 2007
3. Menimbang dan meluluskan Lapuran Jawatankuasa bagi tahun 2007/8
4. Menimbang dan meluluskan Akaun Teraudit bagi tahun berakhir 31 Disember 2007
5. Memilih Ahli-ahli Jawatankuasa bagi tahun 2008/2010
6. Melantik firma audit untuk akaun bagi tahun 2008

Usul-usul daripada ahli hendaklah dikemukakan secara bertulis kepada Setiausaha Kehormat PSLEM sekurang-kurangnya lima (5) hari sebelum tarikh Mesyuarat Agung Tahunan.

Sekian, terima kasih.

“KE ARA MASYARAKAT PENYAYANG”

Yang benar

Chew Pek Yee
Setiausaha Kehormat
Persatuan SLE Malaysia

Persatuan SLE Malaysia (PSLEM)’s work in raising public awareness of the condition received a much-needed boost when “Wanita Hari Ini”, a popular programme on TV3 about today’s women, gave valuable airtime to a “live” discussion about the condition this morning.

The segment featured Dr. Asmahan Mohamed Ismail, a Rheumatologist at Hospital Selayang, and Ms Sarah Kambali, an SLE patient and member of PSLEM.

Despite being on air “live”, Dr Asmahan and Sarah were very calm and articulate as they shared about the condition, Dr Asmahan from her point- of-view as a physician and Sarah from her personal experience as an SLE patient.

Dr Asmahan gave an overview of the condition, including its causes, symptoms and treatment. In reply to a question about whether a female SLE patient can have children - an issue very close to all women’s hearts – she said the patient should check with her doctor first. The patient’s SLE condition should be stable for at least six months to a year before she tries to conceive. If she is on prednisolone, hydroxychloroquine or azathioprine, these medications must be of a low dosage during her pregnancy.

From the patient’s point-of-view, Sarah recounted what she went through before being diagnosed with the condition, her search for information online and sharing the information with her physician, as well as the benefits of being a member of PSLEM.

Dr Asmahan also answered questions from members of the public who called in during the phone-in section of the programme.

PSLEM’s telephone number and website information appeared on the screen during the latter part of the discussion. This resulted in the PSLEM office continuing to receive telephone calls with questions about SLE long after the programme ended at 1:00 p.m., and throughout the day, too.

PSLEM’s recently revamped website also showed a jump in visitor traffic from 12:30 p.m. onwards when the website’s URL was first shown on the screen.

Our thanks to Dr Asmahan and Sarah for speaking on PSLEM’s behalf in the programme, and also to “Wanita Hari Ini” for giving us valuable air-time to talk about the SLE condition.

The treatment for an SLE sufferer depends on the symptoms he or she experiences and how severe they are. In treating SLE, the doctor has to prevent flares, treat the flares, and minimise organ damage and complications.

The main treatment in SLE involves the use of corticosteroids, the most common being prednisolone. Long-term side effects of corticosteroids can include weakened bones (osteoporosis), high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar (diabetes), damage to the arteries, infections, and cataracts.

As such, Persatuan SLE Malaysia (PSLEM) has started an SLE Fund to help needy patients who have to undergo joint replacement and cataract operations due to the side effects of corticosteroids. The SLE Fund will subsidise the purchase of their prosthesis or lens implant.

More information here

Persatuan SLE Malaysia (PSLEM) was named as one of the top 10 NGOs in Malaysia at the Malaysia NGO Awards 2008 presentation held in Petaling Jaya on 19 May 2008. PT Foundation was selected as the top Malaysian NGO, followed by the National Kidney Foundation in second place, while Cheshire Home Selangor and Befrienders tied for third place.

The selection was based on areas such as governance, transparency, resource management, and fund-raising practice. The top 10 NGOs will be featured in the NGO Awards 2008 Casebook to serve as a guide to best practices among NGOs in Malaysia.

Considering how small and young PSLEM is, the Executive Committee is very grateful to be selected among Malaysia’s top 10 NGOs and has pledged to keep up the good work.