MIRI: The Permyjaya Red Crescent Dialysis Centre (BSM) here still requires an additional 26 hemodialysis machines to adequately address the rising demands from kidney patients.
According to Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industries and Performing Arts Sarawak Datuk Sebastian Ting Chew Yew, presently the centre has 38 hemodialysis machines but only 12 are working and the rest have yet to be approved for use.
“The additional need for the machine is very urgent following the growing trend of increasing kidney patients in Miri.
“Therefore, the health awareness needs to be emphasised at the school level and also for the community,” he said.
He said this when met during the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Programme of the Sarawak Public Communications Unit (UKAS) at the Permyjaya Red Crescent Dialysis Centre on Thursday.
During the programme, Ting also had the opportunity to entertain 14 Chinese patients in conjunction with the Chinese New Year this year and present angpows as well as mandarin oranges to the patients and 21 staff who attended the programme.
In the meantime, UKAS special administrative officer Datuk Takun Sunggah, who represented UKAS director Samuel Simon, said UKAS always cooperates with various government and non-government agencies.
“The organisation of the CSR Programme in collaboration with BSM Permyjaya Miri Dialysis Centre not only plays a role in helping individuals and families who need help, but also becomes a vehicle to connect the government with the people in delivering government policies and initiatives,” he said.
