KUCHING: The new partnership between Sunway Group and the Malaysian AIDS Foundation (MAF) together with Teratak Kasih Tok Nan will further alleviate the plight of people living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Sarawak.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said MAF has been supporting people living with HIV in Sarawak for more than two decades.
He said a Sarawak branch for MAF currently coordinates all programmes and strategic HIV/AIDS interventions for the state.
“In 2017, an important milestone for HIV/AIDS response in Sarawak was met when the first-ever halfway home and One Stop Support Centre for people living with HIV was established by the MAF.
“The centre was later renamed as Teratak Kasih Tok Nan in honour of the late Pehin Sri Tan Sri Datuk Patinggi Adenan Satem and it is instrumental in linking patients from rural Sarawak to life-saving treatments available at Sarawak General Hospital (SGH).
“Low-income patients who were previously forced to neglect their treatment because they could not afford to stay overnight in town area are now able to seek comfort and refuge at Teratak Kasih Tok Nan,” he said.
He said this during the official launch of the Sunway Group and Malaysian Aids Foundation (MAF) partnership of Sunway-HOPE Borneo Project at Teratak Kasih Tok Nan here on Wednesday (July 6).
His speech was read by Minister of Women, Early Childhood and Community Well-being Development Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah.
Abang Johari also lauded Datuk Amar Jamilah Anu who is the patron of Teratak Kasih Tok Nan for her compassion.
He said the impact of the halfway home and One Stop Support Centre cannot be underestimated.
“I came to learn that Teratak Kasih Tok Nan has been her passion project since day one of its inception. I am deeply touched by her display of compassion to the plight of people living with HIV.
“This is also the embodiment of the late Tok Nan’s spirit of generosity and his love for the people of Sarawak,” he added.
