KUCHING: The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry (KPWKM) plans to set up another National Welfare Foundation (YKN) Anjung Kasih temporary accommodation facility here.
Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said the Anjung Kasih at the Sarawak General Hospital was ageing and in need of more space, especially for individuals who reside far from the state capital and undergoing cancer treatment at the hospital.
“We need more than one Anjing Kasih (in Kuching) with new facilities and therefore, I have asked the hospital to suggest a suitable location here. The ministry will do the necessary to obtain allocations,” Nancy, who is also YKN Board of Trustees chairman, said.
She said this during a press conference after visiting the SGH Anjung Kasih here on Monday (Jan 30).
In that regard, Nancy suggested the hospital suggest the appropriate location to allow her ministry to procure allocations for the purpose.
“It needs to be rushed because I was informed by the hospital that the (current) Anjung Kasih can only accommodate 80 to 90 people at a time.
“It will also help in creating family support for the patient because they can be close to the patient,” she explained.
Anjung Kasih, managed by government hospitals, was established to alleviate the financial and emotional burden faced by family members, especially from the B40 groups, who live far from the hospital and need to commute to take care of the patients.
“This new place will need to be close to SGH because here, it accommodates caregivers as well as the patients themselves including cancer patients who need further treatment.
“That’s why in Kuching, we need more than one Anjung Kasih so that patients and caregivers can be more comfortable with better facilities,” she said.
At the same time, the Santubong MP also called on the public to step forward and donate in order to further expand the establishment of Anjung Kasih in hospitals.
“I call on corporate companies that want to cooperate through their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes.
“Donations can be channeled through YKN and will be channeled to the Anjung Kasih in Sarawak,” she added.
In Sarawak, YKN has established three Anjung Kasih, namely at Miri Hospital, Sibu Hospital and SGH.
