This summer, Chris Cotter and Sun Yu, MPH candidates, are completing international internships at the Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Their mentor Latha Rajan, professor of tropical medicine, provided the opportunity to the students through her ongoing collaboration with MAC.
Sun’s passion for improving the lives of marginalized communities such as orphans, sex workers, and refugees, among other groups, led her to work with one of MAC’s most active partner organizations, the Pink Triangle Foundation. The PT Foundation is committed to providing education, prevention, care, and support programs on HIV/AIDS for marginalized communities such as drug users, sex workers, transsexuals, men who have sex with men and people who live with HIV/AIDS.
Working closely with the staff of the sex worker program and women’s drop-in center, Sun trains the program coordinators and community outreach workers in basic computer skills to accurately record data. She also trains the program managers in basic data analysis and interpretation and analyzes data for a survey on HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination. Her Adult Outreach Manual will enable the PT Foundation to conduct adult outreach trainings on a variety of health topics.
With the help of the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Division at MAC, Chris is working to expand the online reporting database and increase the efficiency and accuracy of data collection among partner organizations. Still in its early development stages since its inception in 2007, the M&E Division has provided Chris with the opportunity to assist in its growth. He is also helping the division to develop a logical framework in alignment with core indicators established by the United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on HIV/AIDS.
In addition to their work-related activities, Sun and Chris are enjoying their time eating the delicious food, learning about the many different cultures in Malaysia, and exploring the exciting adventures that the country offers. | 
MPH candidates Sun Yu and Chris
Cotter at the Malaysian AIDS Council
with their mentor Latha Rajan, professor
of tropical medicine.
Chris and Sun with Malaysian AIDS Council staff members.
August 8, 2008 |
