Tunku Azizah Launches iCare Fertility Website and Meets TAFF Baby Clarissa Wong

The team and staff of Island Hospital and iCare Fertility Centre were especially honoured to have Her Royal Highness Tengku Puan Pahang, Tunku Hajjah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah binti Almutawakkil Allahlah Sultan Iskandar officially launch the iCare Island Fertility website on 1 November 2006.

At the same function too, iCare Fertility Centre took this opportunity to celebrate and acknowledge the excellent work of the Tunku Azizah Fertility Foundation (TAFF) in sponsoring infertile couples for assisted reproductive techniques. Tunku Azizah is the life president and founder of TAFF.

While launching the iCare Fertility Centre website (www.islandfertility.com), Tunku Azizah voiced her hope that iCare continues to provide excellent services by helping to educate infertile couples so that they make informed choices. She later toured the iCare Fertility Centre on the 5th Floor of Island Hospital and met with the couples who are currently under TAFF sponsorship.

During the website launch, Tunku Azizah also met one of the success stories of TAFF. Baby Clarissa Wong, born to parents Wong Meng Chung and Lau Ann Mei, is one of the nine lucky babies in Malaysia to date conceived by assisted conception sponsored by TAFF.

More importantly, Clarissa Wong was conceived at Island Hospital's iCare Fertility Centre after just one attempt (iCare is one of only two fertility centres in Northern Peninsular Malaysia recognized by the TAFF).

Tunku Azizah said that her heart goes out to infertile couples as she herself had sought infertility treatments all over the world and had experienced 16 failures and 6 miscarriages. Just when she thought it was futile, she finally conceived under the medical care of a Malaysian infertility specialist, Dr PC Wong. Tunku Azizah is now a mother to six happy and healthy children.

How to Apply for Sponsorship from TAFF?

TAFF is a charity organization formed and registered on 11 August 2004. The foundation is headed by Life President Her Royal Highness The Tengku Puan Pahang, Tunku Hajjah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah binti Almutawakkil Allahlah Sultan Iskandar.

TAFF provides financial assistance to needy infertile couples to help them realize the fundamental human dream of having children. TAFF has helped bridge the gap between need and access. Formerly, needy couples had no avenue to pursue if they need assisted reproductive techniques (ART) to conceive. Public hospitals are not able to provide ART treatment as infertility labs have not been established and the cost of infertility treatment at private hospitals is generally high due to the need for advanced technology. Average success rates of conceiving are between 15-30%, depending on fertility centre.

To qualify for TAFF funding, couples must be Malaysians married for more than 3 years, with a joint household income not exceeding RM4,000 a month. In addition, couples must receive treatment at infertility centres recognized by the Tunku Azizah Fertility Foundation such as iCare Fertility Centre at Island Hospital, Penang.

If you need assisted conception and believe that you may qualify for financial assistance from TAFF, please collect the application form at iCare Fertility Centre or contact TAFF directly for an application form.

For more information on TAFF, please write to:

Tunku Azizah Fertility Foundation,
Istana Abdul Aziz, Bandar Indera Mahkota,
25200 Kuantan, Pahang

Phone: 09 573 3241 (Amy)
Email: taff2004@streamyx.com

Public Education Talks

More talks will be announced in near future...

Donor Programme

Interested to become a Sperm / Egg donor?

For details, kindly contact:
iCare Fertility Centre 04-238 3277

Success Stories

"His patience, confidence, kindness & professionalism really encouraged me. We tried a few cycles of IUI as well but weren't successful. He then introduced IVF to us in year 2002. I gave birth to our triplets through C-section. I could hear the cheers from the operating team when they saw our first princess. They are turning 3 this year. They have different personalities and looks. They bring joy and happiness to our family."

CE, Kedah

"What I thought would be almost impossible was made possible. It was a truly worthy second try for a patient like me. I delivered a 4.3kg baby boy on 25th February 2006."

PA, Sabah

Important

Women who are age 30 and above must not wait too long before seeing a gynaecologist. It becomes increasingly urgent after 35. For women over 40 time is truly running out.

Partner O & G

See our O & G partners here