KUCHING: Cancer outpatients of Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) and their family members, especially those from outstation, can stay at Anjung Sayang for free.
Anjung Sayang is a temporary accommodation located at Banglo Matahari, Lorong Maxwell 2, Jalan Maxwell, and it is set up by non-governmental organisation (NGO) Sarawak Breast Cancer Support Group (SBCSG).
According to SBCSG president Juriah Sulehan, since the establishment of Anjung Sayang in November last year, they had hosted about four families.
She said patients and their family members came from Sri Aman, Sibu, Bintulu, Limbang and as far as Belaga, among others.
“We provide them a temporary place to stay when the patients need to wait to have their chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment at the hospital,” she told reporters after paying a courtesy call on Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah at Baitulmakmur here, yesterday.
Juriah said the place was managed by her, nurses and some individuals who are cancer survivors.
“Aside from providing them a place to stay, we also give patients and family members counselling in order to give them moral support during this difficult time,” she said, adding that priority was given to patients from the B40 group (low income).
On the accommodation concept, Juriah said SBCSG got the idea of modifying cargo containers into houses.
“At the moment, we only have three rooms. And we have spent about RM100,000 just for renovating one cargo container into one room,” she said.
Juriah hope more would come forward to support them so that they could carry out their programme and create more awareness about breast cancer, not only in the city but in rural areas as well.
“We also appeal to those who wish to donate, they can do so by donating used cargo containers for us to provide more rooms to patients and their family members,” she said.
She added that SGH also provided temporary accommodation — Anjung Kasih — for patients and family members.
Those who wish to know more about Anjung Sayang can contact Juriah at 019-827 4832.
