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Borneo Post
24-05-2025
- Health
- Borneo Post
LPPKN launches men's well-being drive to strengthen families, address fertility issues
Police personnel undergoing health tests during the programme. LAHAD DATU (May 24): Recognising men's pivotal role in building stronger families, the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN), under the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM), is intensifying efforts to support men's health and well-being through targeted initiatives, including the Program Kesejahteraan Lelaki held in conjunction with the Program Kembara KASIH KPWKM 2025. Speaking to the media after the launch of the event on Thursday, LPPKN Director-General Abdul Shukur Abdullah said the programme aims to address an often overlooked but critical aspect of family development: the health and responsibilities of fathers. 'This programme is vital because it acknowledges the significant role men, especially fathers, play in shaping the well-being of the family,' he said. 'It aligns with the National Family Policy, which promotes a balanced sharing of responsibilities between men and women. We want to ensure men have access to the information, support and treatment they need, whether it's health, parenting or fertility-related,' he added. KPWKM Deputy Secretary General (Operation) Farah Adura Binti Hamidi with the participants of the event. Abdul Shukur highlighted findings from LPPKN's 2024 Father's Day Survey, which revealed that nine out of 10 fathers consider fatherhood today to be far more challenging than in the past. 'The biggest issues they face are the rising cost of living, difficulties balancing work and family, job-related stress and financial struggles. This tells us there's an urgent need to support fathers holistically, physically, emotionally and mentally,' he stressed. In response to rising infertility rates, the government has allocated RM6 million under Budget 2025 for the Fertility Treatment Assistance and Infertility Advocacy Programme (BuAI), set to benefit 30,000 couples and individuals. 'This programme will provide access to IUI treatments, fertility screenings, counselling services, and nationwide awareness campaigns. We have also set aside RM1.3 million specifically for men's health programmes,' he added. Abdul Shukur also shared the latest developments from LPPKN's Men's Well-being Clinics, which were first introduced in Kuala Lumpur in 2022 and have since expanded to five more states, Johor, Penang, Melaka, Terengganu and Sarawak. 'These clinics offer vital services like psychosexual therapy, health screenings, counselling and healthy lifestyle guidance. The public response has been very encouraging, indicating a shift in men's awareness about the importance of their health,' he said. He noted that Sabah will see the introduction of the clinic for the first time this year, calling it 'an important step towards addressing men's needs in a more holistic and inclusive manner.' With these initiatives, LPPKN hopes to foster not only healthier men but also stronger, more resilient families. families fertility LPPKN men sales
New Straits Times
22-05-2025
- Health
- New Straits Times
BuAI receives 1,700 applications for fertility treatment assistance since February
LAHAD DATU: 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," he told Bernama after the Men's Wellness Programme today. One of the key criteria is that applicants must be aged 35 and above, he said. The event was launched by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry deputy secretary-general of Operations Farah Adura Hamidi in conjunction with the Kembara Kasih programme. Meanwhile, Abdul Shukur said the agency aims to reach 30,000 men through the Men's Wellness Programme. "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 said 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 said. 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 said 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
