KUCHING: Women’s health and fertility awareness were highlighted as key pillars of women’s empowerment during the International Women’s Day (IWD) 2026 Borneo Zone celebration held today.
Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, said women’s wellbeing must be addressed holistically, stressing that good health is fundamental to building resilient families and communities, particularly in Sabah and Sarawak.
“Women’s empowerment must be felt in daily life, from economic security and leadership opportunities to health and wellbeing. When women are healthy and independent, families and communities are stronger,” she said in her speech at the event held at Pullman Hotel, Kuching.
Nancy said women make up nearly half of Malaysia’s population and continue to play a vital role in economic growth and community development across the Borneo region.
Against that backdrop, she said women’s health initiatives remain a national priority, particularly preventive care and early detection programmes under the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN).
She added that this year, 32,000 women nationwide are being targeted for cervical cancer screening through HPV DNA testing, with Kampung Santubong selected as a pilot location in Sarawak.
“Over the past few years, more than 53,000 women in Sarawak have undergone screening, allowing cases to be detected earlier and lives to be saved,” she said, highlighting the importance of timely health checks as part of broader reproductive and fertility health awareness.
She added that such initiatives must be complemented by outreach efforts to ensure women, particularly those in rural and remote areas, are not left behind due to limited access to information or services.
Beyond health, Nancy said the ministry continues to strengthen women’s economic resilience through programmes such as ‘Wanita Dinamik’, which has assisted 21,274 women nationwide since 2021, including nearly 8,000 in Sarawak.
Each participant receives a RM500 grant to support small-scale enterprises, with almost RM4 million allocated specifically for Sarawak to expand women-led entrepreneurship.
Leadership development also remains a focus through the PERANTIS programme, under which 100 women are selected nationwide, including 11 from Sarawak, to receive RM50,000 grants to train other women in leadership, creative industries and entrepreneurship.
Overall, the initiative has benefited more than 4,100 participants, including 644 from the Borneo zone.
During her speech, Nancy also paid tribute to the late Professor Datuk Dr Madeline Berma, describing her as a respected academic and advocate who championed the voices of women and rural communities.
“Her legacy reminds us that knowledge, courage and sincerity can bring meaningful change to society,” she said.
She stressed that advancing the women’s empowerment agenda requires collective effort, calling on government agencies, communities, non-governmental organisations and the private sector to work together to ensure equal opportunities for women, whether in urban centres or rural interiors.
