The Malaysian government is encouraging married couples to overcome any hesitation or embarrassment when seeking fertility treatment, emphasizing that such concerns may hinder their ability to conceive. Women, Family, and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri highlighted that fertility issues are often thought to be the sole responsibility of women, but men can also face challenges that contribute to infertility.
“Too often, the inability to conceive is attributed entirely to women, but the reality is that men can also experience fertility issues,” Nancy explained. She urged the public to seek treatment to improve fertility levels, ultimately aiming to boost the nation’s birth rate.
Nancy’s remarks came after the launch of the Fertility Treatment Assistance and Infertility Advocacy (BuAI) initiative at the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) Family Centre. The initiative, part of Budget 2025, has been allocated RM6 million to fund two cycles of Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) fertility treatment for 1,300 eligible couples, free of charge. The program also includes an infertility advocacy campaign to raise awareness and provide support.
Nancy emphasized that the BuAI initiative is specifically designed to improve accessibility for couples with a household income of less than RM10,000, who have never received financial assistance for fertility treatments from any other agency.
The government’s goal with this initiative is to provide the necessary facilities and subsidies to help more couples realize their dreams of starting a family. During the launch, Nancy announced the first recorded pregnancy under BuAI on February 18, showcasing the initiative’s effectiveness in supporting couples struggling with infertility.
In a separate statement, Nancy also urged parents to be cautious and advise their children against consuming certain snacks, particularly chewy or gummy candies. This comes after the tragic death of a 10-year-old boy, Mohammad Fahmi Hatfiz Mohammad Fakhruddin, who passed away after allegedly choking on gummy candies. The boy, a Year Four student at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Sungai Dua in Butterworth, was in critical condition after the incident and succumbed while receiving treatment at the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) of Penang Hospital. Nancy emphasized the importance of vigilance and parental guidance in ensuring the safety of children, alongside the role of teachers in preventing the consumption of dangerous foods.
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