GREAT LOVE

Caring Home in the Rainforest Pitas is located on the north of Sabah. Due to its remoteness and lack of access to transport and medical facilities, the aboriginal women had to track through the mountains and cross rivers for a simple antenatal check- up. To many who could not afford to have medical attention, a home birth may be the only option. As a result, Pitas was deemed to have the highest mortality rate at birth in the whole of Malaysia. In July 2003, Rumah Penyayang Tzu Chi Pitas, a halfway house for the expectant mothers, was set up. This has greatly reduced the number of dystocia cases due to home births. On July 31, 2015, Rumah Penyayang Tzu Chi Pitas welcomed its 1,000th baby, an important milestone that marked the significance of the centre’s role in safeguarding lives. Taiwan Buddhist Tzu-Chi Foundation Malaysia 16