Women ministry to discuss building subfertility laboratory in Kuching with State govt

Nancy speaking to reporters after officiating at the State-level BKK 2023 event at the Darul Hana Mosque grounds in Kuching on Nov 26, 2023. Photo credit: Ukas

KUCHING, Nov 26: The Women, Family, and Community Development Ministry (KPWKM) will discuss with the Sarawak government on building a subfertility laboratory at the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) premises in Kuching.

KPWKM minister Dato Sri Nancy Shukri stated that her ministry will initiate discussions with the Sarawak government regarding the matter, Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas) has reported.

“I need to discuss with the State government first to get approval. This is because the existing laboratory at the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) is not sufficient and we want to have another such laboratory especially for the people of Sarawak,” she said when met by the media after officiating at the State-level National Family Month Celebration (BKK) 2023 at the Darul Hana Mosque grounds here today, as quoted by Ukas.

Nancy, who is also Santubong MP, said that LPPKN is presently operating from Wisma Sego, as the LPPKN building is currently being renovated.

“The building is already there and is currently being renovated. In fact, I will discuss including the laboratory as one of the components in the building.

“The State government also wants to contribute a little for the purpose of this laboratory; for other costs we will bear,” she noted.

Nancy previously announced that the first National Subfertility Centre will be built in Shah Alam, Selangor, next year at a cos of RM171 million, and it will be operational in 2029.

Earlier in her speech, she revealed that the establishment of the centre is very much related to the development of the Malaysian family, and aims to help give hope to couples who have difficulty conceiving children.

“Once again LPPKN is given the role and responsibility to manage this centre which also provides comprehensive fertility treatment and family welfare services including functioning as a research coordination centre, the latest treatment technology, and specialist training in Malaysia,” she added.

For the record, according to Ukas, the construction of the centre, which was approved under the 12th Malaysia Plan (RMK12), coincided with the alarming decline in the fertility rate, which fell from 6.7 children per woman in 1957 to only 1.6 children per woman in 2022, the lowest rate ever recorded.

Also present were Sarawak Deputy Minister of Utility and Telecommunication (Utilities) and Pantai Damai assemblyman Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, LPPKN Malaysia chairman Dato Sri Rohani Abdul Karim, LPPKN director general Abdul Shukur Abdullah, and LPPKN deputy director general (Management) Hairil Fadzly Md Akir. — DayakDaily