Toh Puan Hajah feeding a bottle of milk to baby Anisa while Norsima looks on.
KOTA KINABALU: Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Jainab Ahmad Ayid yesterday urged the public to take notice of social welfare units provided at public hospitals in the state.
“There are counters in public hospitals provided jointly by the State Social Welfare Department, where a person, who is a Malaysian citizen, may register to receive free or subsidized medical treatment depending on his or her financial status and background,” Jainab said at the launch of BTC Group’s Corporate Social Responsibility programme at the Sabah Women and Children’s Hospital in Likas here yesterday.
She added that the department’s units would intervene and provide utmost attention if they realize, upon evaluation, that the person or family in question is in dire need of assistance.
Meanwhile, Jainab, who is also Karambunai assemblywoman, welcomed non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and corporate sector agencies to direct their attention to public hospitals in the state.
She hoped the government’s work in improving amenities and facilities within public hospitals could be made even better though cooperation with non-governmantal organisations and private sector figures.
“Hospitals are for the people and we, as the government, will provide our assistance to the people as long as they are dependent on it,” Jainab remarked.
Earlier, Toh Puan Hajah Norlida RM Jasni, wife of Head of State Tun Haji Juhar Datuk Haji Mahiruddin officiated at the BTC Group’s Corporate Social Responsibility Program to distribute Raya cookies and provisions for patients at the Sabah Women and Children’s Hospital in Likas.
Also in attendance were Haji Abdul Kadir Sikkandar, BTC Group chief executive officer Haji Abdul Kadir Sikkandar, his wife Puan Hajah Sithi Kathija Begam, State Health director Dr Christina Rundi and Sabah Women and Children’s Hospital director Dr Tan Bee Hwai.
Meanwhile, Norsima Arsil, 20, mother to eight-month-old patient, Anisa Abdullah, who is suffering from a congenital heart defect at the hospital, was visibly moved by the visit from the group.
She told reporters yesterday that Norsima and her husband would be spending Raya at the hospital with Anisa because of his prolonged sickness.
“My only hope for Raya this year is for my child to be safe and healthy as he has been in the hospital since early March this year,” she said with tears rolling down his face.
In the spirit of Ramadan, the program aimed to distribute Raya cookies and provisions to the patients at the hospital ward and at the same time offered consolation and prayers for their quick recovery, Abdul said.
Fifty staff members of BTC Group were also present at the event yesterday. The company is currently making Ramadan visits to five general hospitals around the state, including Queen Elizabeth Hospital here, and Duchess of Kent Hospital in Sandakan.
Toh Puan Hajah (centre), Jainab (second left), Abdul (first left), Dr Tan (first right) and Dr Christina (second right) with BTC Group staff and Sabah Women and Children’s Hospital staff.