BY AMYRA VARKISA & GOH PEI PEI
SIBU: A total of 399 Special Kidney Patient Assistance (SKPA) has been approved, with a total expenditure of RM6,944,780 from 2020 to 2023, to assist in alleviating the burden of kidney patients in Sarawak who require treatment for the disease.
Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said the assistance is divided into three categories, namely, clinical support, transplant and transportation.
For clinical support, she said patients can apply for RM50 per session for 14 sessions per month and transplant assistance with a limit of RM5,000 given as a one-off.
Meanwhile, the amount of transportation assistance received by each applicant varies according to the frequency of the applicant’s visits to the relevant health institution and the duration of the application submitted to the state Social Welfare Department.
“Besides, the state government provides haemodialysis machine assistance, where we have purchased a total of 24 haemodialysis machines through tender last year.
“One machine costs RM41,150 and the total expenditure for purchasing 24 machines is RM987,600,” she said during her visit to Sibu Kidney Foundation (SKF) here yesterday.
Earlier, Fatimah said, she was impressed, particularly with the Sibu community, local leaders, businessmen and all those involved in setting up the foundation, the first non-governmental organisation dialysis centre here.
“Not only that, but I am also equally impressed with the charitable spirit shown by the locals here, especially towards the welfare of those in need, hence the starting point of SKF.
“I can see it has been run professionally under the leadership of SKF Board of Trustees, consisting of both professionals and local people alike,” she said.
With the high standards of service and medical care, the SKF having patients doing their dialysis here for more than 20 years now, reflected that the centre shows no compromise on quality of service, from a trained and dedicated team in SKF.
Apart from providing quality treatment, she said, SKF is also actively embarking on the educational effort and outreach to communities, to give awareness on kidney health, such as in schools, villages, social gatherings or upon invitation. Others include exhibitions, blood test campaigns, health screenings and public events such as ‘Kidney Run’.
“They are committed to provide dialysis services to all regardless of race, religion or financial status, the operation cost is a primary concern.
“SKF runs mainly on public support through financial contributions, Sibu people have been and are still very supportive. So, I hope the public can continue to support SKF so that it is able to continue to provide quality dialysis for kidney patients,” she added.
