BINTULU: The Ministry of Health (MoH) has welcomed the expansion of the Teratak Kasih Tok Nan initiative here to strengthen the delivery of community-based HIV and AIDS services in Sarawak, following its successful implementation in Kuching and Miri.
Deputy Minister of Health Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib said the development of Teratak Kasih Tok Nan is significant in helping to bridge gaps in HIV service delivery, particularly in the face of geographical distance, challenging terrain and disparities in development levels between urban and rural areas in the state.
According to Hanifah, Teratak Kasih Tok Nan is not merely a support facility but part of a national strategic effort to ensure that HIV prevention, treatment, and support services are more comprehensively, consistently, and continuously accessible to communities in need.
“This initiative also complements the implementation of the Differentiated HIV Services for Key Populations (DHSKP) approach at the ground level, particularly in ensuring that at-risk and marginalised groups receive quality, safe and community-centred services,” she said.
She said thisat the official opening of the Teratak Kasih Tok Nan Bintulu Branch by Deputy Premier and Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government, Datuk Amar Prof. Dr Sim Kui Hian, here on Tuesday.
Hanifah said the strength of Teratak Kasih Tok Nan lies in its role as a catalyst for tripartite collaboration among the government, civil society organisations, and the corporate sector, within a shared responsibility framework aligned with community needs and long-term public health goals.
Meanwhile, she stressed that the sustainability of the national HIV response cannot rely on a single party alone, but requires an integrated shared-responsibility approach to ensure continuity of inclusive and high-impact HIV prevention and support interventions, in line with the national direction to end AIDS as a public health threat.
She also expressed appreciation to the Sarawak government for its continued commitment to supporting HIV prevention and support efforts, including the RM2.25 million allocation over three years to support the operations and expansion of Teratak Kasih Tok Nan in the state.
According to her, the integrated approach not only strengthens the community-based public health response but also contributes directly to efforts to reduce stigma and discrimination against individuals affected by HIV.
