FUND-RAISING FOR TERATAK KASIH TOK NAN
Teratak Kasih Tok Nan is a One-Stop Service Centre situated at Kuching. The Centre was established by Malaysian AIDS Foundation in 2017 and operated by a local non-governmental organization (NGO) partner of the Malaysian AIDS Council, the Sarawak AIDS Concern Society. Teratak Kasih Tok Nan was built and named in honour of the late Chief Minister of Sarawak, Pehin Sri Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Haji Adenan Satem. Teratak Kasih Tok Nan is also a personal endeavour of YB Datuk Amar Datin Patinggi Hajah Jamilah Anu, the wife of Pehin Sri Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Haji Adenan Satem.
Her compassion for the cause and dedication to help underprivileged community members impacted by HIV in Sarawak drove her to lead a very successful fundraising campaign for Malaysian AIDS Foundation back in 2016. She was also instrumental in getting all key stakeholders, including the Office of the Chief Minister of Sarawak, to back this project and fast-tracked the implementation of this critical project. YB Datuk Amar currently serves as the Patron of Teratak Kasih Tok Nan.
Teratak Kasih Tok Nan
Teratak Kasih Tok Nan is a single storey bungalow with four bedrooms and can accommodate up to a maximum of 13 occupants at a single time. The Centre also provides food and money to the low-income families to subsidise their transport fare, especially for those from the rural areas. The Centre also tries to link the patients with other agencies if they require further assistance. This centre serves as a safe space for HIV-impacted people and families in the local community to access HIV-related health, social and welfare services. It also acts as a halfway home or free lodging facility for those patients who are travelling long distances and in need of a place to stay to access HIV treatment at the Sarawak General Hospital in Kuching.
ABOUT TERATAK KASIH TOK NAN
The centre also offers community-based HIV testing, counseling, treatment literacy, and legal and welfare service referrals, in addition to providing life skills training such as reading and colouring for kids, and other social reintegration support such as peer-support programme to its beneficiaries. The peer-support programme is among the initiatives to encourage patients to speak out without fear and shame about their illness, thus motivating them to stay positive. The occupants feel comfortable with their fellow patients as they do not worry about being chased away or insulted. They feel safe and know that they are not alone in their struggle against the disease. The Centre also organizes activities such as cooking, baking, sewing, make-up tutorials and making handicrafts to equip them with skills, particularly the sex workers, so that they can earn a living.
THE LOCATION
9, Jalan Rodway, 93000 Kuching, Sarawak