KUCHING: Hope Place Kuching has extended support to a struggling family in Matang here as a determined mother battles against the odds to care for her ailing husband and four children.
The non-governmental organisation (NGO) said that the family’s hardships began last August when the husband, Amir Simatupang, 38, developed severe health issues.
“Amir, who used to work as a lorry driver, was in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at hospital for a month and had to undergo surgery.
“Currently, Amir is at home, still recovering, unable to stand up or sit for a long period of time. On top of that, Amir uses insulin daily for his diabetes and takes high blood pressure medication,” Hope Place Kuching said on Wednesday (Jan 15).
Since then, Amir’s wife, Nor Ashida, 35, has become the pillar and breadwinner of the family.
“In order to earn some income for her family, Nor Ashida works as a ‘washer woman’, collecting tablecloths and curtains from restaurants or private homes to be washed and cleaned.
“Although this meagre income barely covers the family’s expenses, Nor Ashida never gives up.”
Moreover, the couple has four school-aged children, ranging from five to 17 years old.
“Their second child, 15, has learning disability and attends a special school.
“Despite a hectic and busy daily routine, Nor Ashida tries her best in earning income while caring for her husband and looking after all her children.”
Amir is currently in the process of applying for social welfare assistance, while Hope Place Kuching is providing essential food aid to the family.
Hope Place Kuching is also supplying milk powder for the children and school supplies for the upcoming term.
Those wishing to contribute can contact Hope Place or Persatuan Kebajikan Harapan Kuching
(PKHK) at 082-505987 or 013-5672775.
Contributions can also be made via bank account to MBB account number 511289001160 or
through Sarawak Pay / S PAY GLOBAL QR code available on their Facebook page.
