BUAI RECEIVES 1,700 APPLICATIONS FOR FERTILITY TREATMENT ASSISTANCE SINCE FEBRUARY

LAHAD DATU, May 22 (Bernama) -- The Fertility Treatment Assistance and Infertility Advocacy (BuAI) initiative under Budget 2025 has received 1,700 applications for intrauterine insemination (IUI) fertility treatment assistance since its launch in February.

National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) director-general Abdul Shukur Abdullah said the initiative aims to support couples struggling to conceive, with an allocation of RM6 million, targeting 1,300 couples.

“Since its launch, demand has been very encouraging nationwide. As of now, we have exceeded our target by 400. We are conducting eligibility screenings to ensure that only qualified applicants receive this free service.

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“One of the key criteria is that applicants must be aged 35 and above,” he told Bernama after the Men’s Wellness Programme today.

The event was officiated by the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM), deputy secretary-general of Operations, Farah Adura Hamidi, in conjunction with the 2025 KPWKM Kembara Kasih programme.

Meanwhile, Abdul Shukur said the agency aims to reach 30,000 men through the Men’s Wellness Programme. 

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“It was an encouraging turnout. We were informed that around 600 men attended our inaugural programme in Sabah to gain awareness on male wellness.

“As part of LPPKN’s services, today’s programme featured screenings related to male fertility issues, general and reproductive health checks, including testicular and prostate cancer screenings. We also conducted health talks focused on men’s well-being,” he said.

He explained that the programme is designed to empower men by raising awareness on the importance of health, sexual wellness and mental well-being.

Earlier in his speech, Abdul Shukur highlighted that male psychosexual issues, such as erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation, can contribute to infertility, noting that the National Health and Morbidity Survey (2022) reported that 36.9 percent of young men aged between 18 and 29 experienced erectile dysfunction.

“Data from LPPKN’s Men’s Wellness Clinics, which offer counselling and medical treatment for abnormal semen conditions and psychosexual issues, show a rising trend in both new and follow-up cases, from 432 in 2023 to 760 in 2024,” he added.

Currently, six Men’s Wellness Clinics have been established in Sarawak, Penang, Melaka, Terengganu, Johor and Sabah since the initiative was launched in 2022.

“These clinics aim to raise awareness and promote healthy lifestyle practices such as quitting smoking, weight management and balanced nutrition, as lifestyle factors have a significant impact on fertility. The clinics also offer male health screening packages,” he explained.

In Sabah, Abdul Shukur said services are currently available at Klinik Nur Sejahtera in Kota Kinabalu, focusing on timed intercourse counselling, while counselling services are provided in Tawau.

“We also operate the LPPKN mobile clinic for remote areas in Sabah, including during outreach efforts under the Kembara Kasih KPWKM programme,” he said.

He added that LPPKN is prepared to collaborate with the General Operations Force and Marine Police to provide health services and advocacy for personnel who are often stationed far away from their spouses.

“Men’s wellness is a critical aspect they need to understand, and it’s equally important for these officers to know how to maintain their reproductive health,” he said.

-- BERNAMA