BEAUFORT: Disabled people (OKU) are among the thousands of flood victims evacuated to flood relief centres in Beaufort since last Thursday.
Mohd Helme Justin 21, from Kampung Luagan who suffers from hydrocephalus, was transferred to the evacuation centre at Dewan Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Beaufort III for safety reasons after flood waters inundated the town of Beaufort when the water level of Sungai Padas rose above the danger level.
Hydrocephalus is a condition of enlarged head due to the disruption in the flow of fluid in the brain.
His mother, Saadiah Matlan 47, said at first she did not want to move because it was difficult to carry Mohd Helme, who was diagnosed with hydrocephalus when he was one month old, but with the help of the security forces, they were able to move him.
She said since the age of 10, Mohd Helme’s head had stopped growing but despite this he was not able to walk alone and just keeps lying motionless.
“He is healthy but is unable to get up because of the weight of his head and until now has not gone for any treatment to remove the excess fluid.
“Mohd Helme can talk but has his ‘moods’, he can also understand conversations and can answer questions,” she said.
Saadiah said she hoped the relevant parties would provide assistance in the form of a wheelchair to help Mohd Helme, the fourth of six siblings, to move about.
Meanwhile, a young mother, Siti Nurhasima Nurdin, 20, who also has a 10-month-old child suffering from the same condition was among nearly 800 victims in the evacuation centre.
Siti Nurhasima who is from Kampung Balibata said the family chose to move with the baby when the water level started rising in their village. — Bernama