Kuala Lumpur: 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.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) director-general Abdul Shukur Abdullah stated that the initiative aims to support couples struggling to conceive, with an allocation of RM6 million, targeting 1,300 couples. He mentioned that the demand has been encouraging nationwide, surpassing the target by 400 applications. Eligibility screenings are being conducted to ensure that only qualified applicants receive the free service, with a key criterion being that applicants must be aged 35 and below.
The announcement was made after the Men’s Wellness Programme, officiated by the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM) deputy secretary-general of Operations, Farah Adura Hamidi, as part of the 2025 KPWKM Kembara Kasih programme. Abdul Shukur highlighted that the agency aims to reach 30,000 men through the Men’s Wellness Programme, noting an encouraging turnout with around 600 men attending the inaugural programme in Sabah to gain awareness on male wellness.
The LPPKN services in the programme include screenings related to male fertility issues, general and reproductive health checks, including testicular and prostate cancer screenings, alongside health talks focused on men’s well-being. Abdul Shukur emphasized the programme’s goal of empowering men by raising awareness about the importance of health, sexual wellness, and mental well-being.
In his speech, Abdul Shukur pointed out that male psychosexual issues, like erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation, can contribute to infertility. Data from LPPKN’s Men’s Wellness Clinics indicate a rising trend in both new and follow-up cases related to abnormal semen conditions and psychosexual issues, increasing from 432 in 2023 to 760 in 2024. Six Men’s Wellness Clinics have been established since 2022 in Sarawak, Penang, Melaka, Terengganu, Johor, and Sabah, aiming to raise awareness and promote healthy lifestyle practices. These clinics offer male health screening packages and address lifestyle factors impacting fertility.
Specifically in Sabah, services are available at Klinik Nur Sejahtera in Kota Kinabalu, focusing on timed intercourse counselling, with additional counselling services in Tawau. LPPKN also operates a mobile clinic for remote areas in Sabah, as part of outreach efforts under the Kembara Kasih KPWKM programme.
Abdul Shukur noted that LPPKN is ready to collaborate with the General Operations Force and Marine Police to provide health services and advocacy for personnel stationed far from their spouses, emphasizing the importance of men’s wellness and reproductive health understanding.