LAWAS: The Ministry of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development is committed to consistently assisting kidney patients in need of hemodialysis treatment.
Its minister, Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said that previously she presented a proposal to the cabinet for an allocation to support kidney patients in undergoing hemodialysis, as the costs of kidney dialysis were a significant burden.
“The expenses for dialysis treatment in private facilities and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) could range from RM120 to RM300 per dialysis session, which typically needs to be undergone three to four times a week, in addition to transportation costs.
“Therefore, to help kidney patients, we presented to the cabinet to obtain approval from the state government to allocate funds to assist kidney patients in undergoing hemodialysis at private clinics or NGOs, including transportation assistance.
“Alhamdulillah, all of these have been approved by the state cabinet, and we have requested the Department of Social Welfare (JKM) to implement it,” she said.
She said this in her speech at the handing over ceremony of hemodialysis machines for kidney patients at Lawas Hospital, recently.
She further said the State Health Department (JKNS) needs to organise advocacy programmes to promote kidney care awareness, especially in terms of nutrition.
“With it, we are aiming to reduce the number of kidney patients throughout Sarawak, and it is hoped that JKNS can implement such programmes to increase awareness among the public,” she said.
During the event, Fatimah handed over two hemodialysis machines totalling RM82,300 to Lawas Hospital.
