RM2.25 mln allocation to expand HIV services to Miri, Bintulu

On August 28, the Sarawak government announced a three-year RM2.25 million allocation to expand community-based HIV services to Miri and Bintulu, according to the Malaysian AIDS Foundation (MAF) Sarawak. The funds will bolster the Teratak Kasih Tok Nan initiative, which currently offers medical treatment, temporary accommodation, and psychosocial support to people living with HIV, their families, and vulnerable communities.

Premier Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg highlighted the initiative's alignment with the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, emphasizing inclusive development and improved quality of life for Sarawakians. He stated that healthcare is a core investment in human capital, and the expanded Teratak Kasih Tok Nan demonstrates the government's commitment to accessible, compassionate, and people-centered healthcare.

Teratak Kasih Tok Nan, initially established in Kuching as a halfway home and support center, offers shelter, counseling, treatment monitoring, welfare support, and community outreach. Jamilah Anu, patron of MAF Borneo and a key figure in expanding the initiative, emphasized the center's role in reducing stigma and providing compassionate care.

She stressed that every person deserves dignity, compassion, and respect, regardless of their circumstances. The expansion of services complements the Sarawak Health Access Programme (SHAPE), launched in 2018 in partnership with the Ministry of Health Malaysia, MAF, Sunway Group, and Yayasan Petronas, to provide travel subsidies for low-income patients needing specialized chronic disease treatment at distant urban hospitals.