By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 27: Teratak Kasih Tok Nan will expand to Miri and Bintulu under a three-year, RM2.25 million allocation from the Sarawak government, extending community-based HIV services and bringing medical treatment, temporary accommodation and psychosocial support closer to those who need them.
The expansion will improve access to support for people living with HIV, their families and vulnerable communities across Sarawak.
Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the initiative was in line with the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030), which seeks to foster an inclusive society alongside economic development.
“‘Sarawak’s development agenda has always centred on improving the quality of life of our people. While we continue to strengthen our economy and embrace innovation, we must also ensure that progress is inclusive and no one is left behind.
“Healthcare is a fundamental investment in our human capital, and initiatives such as Teratak Kasih Tok Nan demonstrate our commitment to accessible, compassionate and people-centred healthcare for every Sarawakian,” he said, as reported by the Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas).
He highlighted that expanding community-based healthcare services would help improve health outcomes while contributing to Malaysia’s broader goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
First established in Kuching as a halfway home and support centre, Teratak Kasih Tok Nan provides temporary shelter, counselling, treatment monitoring, welfare assistance and community outreach.
The expansion has been spearheaded by Malaysian AIDS Foundation (MAF) Borneo Patron Datuk Amar Jamilah Anu, who highlighted the centre’s role in reducing stigma and providing compassionate care.
“Every person deserves dignity, compassion and respect, regardless of circumstance. Teratak Kasih Tok Nan was established not only to provide care, but also to restore hope, reduce stigma and remind people living with HIV that they are not alone,” she said.
The expansion also complements the Sarawak Health Access Programme (SHAPE), launched in 2018 in collaboration with the Ministry of Health Malaysia to provide travel subsidies for low-income patients requiring specialised chronic disease treatment at distant urban hospitals.
The initiative brings together the Sarawak government, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Malaysian AIDS Foundation, Sunway Group and Yayasan PETRONAS in a multi-sector partnership. — DayakDaily
