By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, April 14: The Kuching Divisional Social Welfare Office (PKMB Kuching) has approved Dayang Alizawati Awang Bujang’s request for monthly assistance under the “Bantuan Penjagaan OKU Terlantar/Pesakit Kronik Terlantar (BPT)” at a rate of RM500 per month beginning May 2022, according to Minister of Women, Early Childhood, and Community Wellbeing Development (KPWK) Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah.
Dayang Alizawati, a 40-year-old mother of four, had turned to the public for assistance to cover the cost of her kidney disease treatment after she was diagnosed more than a year ago.
She had been undergoing hemodialysis at the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) for three months, at a cost of nearly RM2,400 per month.
Fatimah told reporters that Dayang Alizawati has also applied for “Bantuan Khas Pesakit Buah Pinggang (BKPBP)” and is currently awaiting approval. The application will be presented for evaluation at a meeting on April 19.
“She was recommended for BKPBP due to her family’s financial difficulties and received no sponsorship from any party,” she said at a press conference following a “Sejambak Kasih” event in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidilfitri this afternoon at Mydin Petra Jaya in Kuching.
Although Dayang Alizawati was diagnosed with the disease a year ago, she only began receiving hemodialysis treatment three months ago because of the long waiting list.
Her weight had plummeted from more than 100kg to around 40kg because she had no appetite, was vomiting, and doctors had to pierce her neck for treatment.
According to online sources, Dayang Alizawati is now completely reliant on her husband, who works as a security guard at a primary school, to take care of her and take her for treatment. However, her husband’s income is insufficient to cover the cost of her treatment, let alone support their family and their children who are still in school.
The cost of her treatment can reach up to RM2,400 per month. — DayakDaily
