KUCHING, SEPT 10 : Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society (SCCS) today shared that despite numerous challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, it had continued to provide full support to child cancer patients and their families who might be in need.
This was expressed in a statement of appreciation by its president, Rodney Wong, on behalf of SCCS, to Mubadala Petroleum, a leading international oil and gas company having operations in Malaysia.
Core to Mubadala Petroleum’s business is being a responsible operator and corporate citizen with a strong commitment to community development, health, safety, and the environment.
In line with this, the company contributed essential medical equipment, such as patient and vital sign monitors, infusion pumps and syringe pumps, to the Paediatric Oncology Ward 2A at the Sarawak General Hospital today.
Wong said that since the pandemic started last year, donations had dropped and SCCS faced numerous challenges in carrying out its services.
The challenges included restricted physical access to patients in the hospital, increased costs in providing services such as transportation, and creating a safe environment at its halfway home for outstation patients.
Wong expressed his appreciation to Mubadala Petroleum for backing efforts in ensuring child cancer patients continue to be supported during the pandemic, as many resources had been diverted towards assisting in the battle against the pandemic.
This is the second project that Mubadala Petroleum has carried out with SCCS, the first of which was funding and supporting the playground refurbishment of the SCCS halfway home for outstation patients.
During the medical equipment handover at the ward, a patient’s mother, who wished to remain anonymous, said she was very thankful for the medical equipment as it would assist the doctors and nurses to provide better care for her child.
“Caring for a child with cancer is quite stressful, and this helps to ease my mind, knowing that she has access to better monitoring of her condition,” she added.
Wong also shared SCCS’ plans for the rest of the year.
“Other than continuing our essential services, SCCS is focusing this year on improving medical support which includes the upgrading of the Paediatric Ward at Sibu Hospital,” he said.
“We have always worked very closely with the medical team to identify the pressing needs of patients and strive to do as much as we can to address this.”
SCCS has also expanded its support services this year to include things like transportation subsidies for patients from rural areas who are doing follow-up treatments at several outstation clinics, monthly essential items for palliative bedridden patients, and provisions of packed breakfast for patients who are doing following up treatments at the Sarawak General Hospital during their weekly routine check-ups.
“In our halfway home, we are in the midst of renovating another patient’s room for immobile patients at the ground floor to accommodate the increasing number of families staying at the halfway home during the pandemic. We are also upgrading our playroom to create a more conducive space for counselling sessions and recreational activities for the children,” Wong added.
Throughout this difficult time, there are still new cases being diagnosed almost weekly, and children with cancer still need to go for treatment and continue to have access to our services.
“We thank Mubadala Petroleum for recognising this, and hope that the public will be inspired by this kind act to also give support to these children and families in need,” said Wong.
Since its formation in 1999, SCCS has supported more than 1,500 children and their families through the various services being provided. This encompasses emotional support, the running of halfway homes in Kuching and Miri for outstation patients receiving treatment at local government hospitals, monthly financial aids, medical treatment and procedures, training for medical staff, public education campaigns and various recreational activities throughout the year.
With an average of 70 children diagnosed with cancer each year, in addition to children receiving on-going treatment as well as relapsed cases, much resources and energy are invested to ensure sustainable support towards the annual care of at average around 200 children suffering from cancer, and their families.
