Beneficiaries of TAFF showing their gratitude during the recent family gathering of TAFF.
MIRI: Ninety-four couples in the country, who were once childless and now parents to a total of 115 children have every reason to thank Tunku Azizah Fertility Foundation (TAFF) especially its founder and patron, Tengku Puan Pahang Tunku Hajjah Azizah Maimunah Sultan Iskandar.
She established the foundation on 11 August 2004, after she herself was unable to conceive for 10 years before becoming a mother of six.
Since its launch TAFF has changed the lives of these couples many of whom had previously almost drained their savings undergoing fertility treatment in their desperation to have their own biological children.
Thesundaypost had the opportunity to hear TAFF’s success story presented during the recent 11th Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW) Area Conference for Southeast Asia and the Far East in Shah Alam, Selangor.
(Oct 18-22)
Tunku Azizah who is also the ACWW area president for Southeast Asia and the Far East, was among those present.
Others included National Association of Women Institute Malaysia president and organising chairperson Raja Sharifah Salwa Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail, ACWW world president Ruth Shanks and exco members, former ACWW world president and Sarawak Federation of Women Institutes (SFWI) honorary advisor, Datuk Ursula Goh, ACWW members from Sarawak, the Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia, South Korea and host Malaysia.
TAFF – Tunku Azizah
Honorary Secretary of TAFF, Dato Hamimah Abdul Karim when presenting her paper told the 115 delegates and observers of the conference that Tunku Azizah had an incredible an enduring tale in her determination to conceive.
“Her Royal Highness went through 10 years persevering through 16 fertility treatments around the world with six miscarriages and stillborn in an effort to get a child
The princess endured the tests enduring medical procedures, disappointment, despair but soldiered on with unwavering faith in God and support of her husband. In 1995 Tengku Hassanal was born, an heir to the Pahang royal throne, as a son means everything to her Royal Highness,” said Hamimah.
She said of the six children and with the miracle of science and God’s blessing, Tengku Jihan was conceived naturally.
Gathered on stage are (back row – from third right) Tunku Azizah and Tengku Mahkota Pahang Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, with children born of parents assisted by TAFF.
TAFF Objectives
•To provide financial aid to and assist poor and needy Malaysian couples regardless of race, religion and State in seeking and obtaining medical treatment and to provide counseling and related support services.
•To work towards the attainment of better health and health care system for all Malaysians especially in terms of reproductive health and prevention of infertility.
•To educate Malaysians of reproductive health and related issues, to generate, strengthen and coordinate programmes, disseminate information and resource materials and conduct and support research on reproductive infertility and related issues.
•To raise fund in order to achieve the aims and objectives.
“Tunku Azizah has complete empathy wanting to give back to society – and fertility foundation as the beneficiary from the proceeds from the book ‘Air Tangan – Masakan Tradisional Pahang,” said Hamimah.
TAFF was registered as a Foundation on 11th Aug 2004, granted tax exemption status from February 15, 2005 and was officially launched on March 25, 2005.
Achievements
Todate, 94 couples had successfully delivered a total of 115 babies (52 boys and 63 girls) out of the total 495 couples seeking fertility treatment with TAFF Out of the total 115 there were 16 sets of twins and two sets of triplets while two boys and girls died and one was stillborn.
Of the 495 couples awarded sponsorship as at the end of September 2014, 74 percent or 369 were Malays, 72 Chinese, 48 Indians and others 6.
Selangor topped the list with 138, followed by Johor 69, Pahang 61, Federal Territory 60 while the rest are from Kedah, Kelantan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Terengganu, Pulau Pinang, Perak, Perlis, Sabah and Sarawak which had five couples trying and of the number, only one delivered a baby.
“We have todate 115 babies and we are still counting for more. We are not discriminatory, all eligible Malaysian couples are encouraged to apply and every application will have to undergo stringent test from the selection committee,” she stressed.
The eligibility criteria are; registered husband and wife; both Malaysians; wife not more than 43 years old; having no sperm ovum donor; maximum monthly joint income not more than RM4,500; more than 3 years of marriage; and are totally childless.
For information about Tunku Azizah Fertility Foundation (TAFF), contact TAFF, Istana Abdulaziz, Indera Mahkota, 25200 Kuantan, Pahang.
Tel: 09-5733 241
Fax: 09-5733 609
E-mail: [email protected]
(Front row – from right) Tunku Azizah in a lighter vein about TAFF to the amusement of Shanks, Raja Sharifah Salwa and ACWW exco members and the audience.