KUCHING, Nov 28: Some 75 patients at the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) in Kota Samarahan Haemodialysis Centre will benefit from the new dialysis machine being contributed by OCBC Bank (Malaysia Berhad) Kuching branch.
The handing over ceremony of a mock cheque, worth RM40,000, to purchase the new machine was held at the NKF-Kidney Association Sarawak/Rotary dialysis centre in Jalan Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce here, today.
Speaking during the ceremony, Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian expressed his gratitude to the OCBC Bank Kuching branch, the Rotary Club Kuching and other local non-government organisations (NGOs) for their excellence example and leadership of servicing the needs of the local community.
He said in Sarawak, a total of 3,544 kidney failure patients are on dialysis and about 500 new patients are being registered every year.
“Today, the Rotary Club of Kuching, together with OCBC (Malaysia) Kuching branch are providing one dialysis machine worth RM40,000, out of 12 machines that are needed in the NKF Kota Samarahan Dialysis Centre.
“With the availability of the 12th machine, it will enable about 75 patients to undergo dialysis,” said Dr Sim told a press conference held at the handing over of mock cheque ceremony.
Sim pointed out that the Sarawak government, through the State Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah, has allocated a substantial amount of money for over five years, to assist those patients with kidney failure in the state.
He said this is to ensure that no Sarawakian would die due to kidney failure because they could not afford their dialysis.
“The most important thing is that we need everybody to do this together, because we, as Sarawakians, should be looking after each other. If you have no money, you can also help by contributing your time and specialties,” he added.
Meanwhile, OCBC Kuching branch senior manager Jessie Lim Pei Lian said the RM40,000 contribution is one of the initiatives that OCBC bank has done all this while.
“We understand there is a need for a dialysis centre, especially a contribution for the dialysis machine.
“This is something that we will continue to do in order to give back to the community,” she said. –DayakDaily.
