KUCHING: A debt-laden man on the brink of losing his job turned to local non-governmental organisation, Hope Place, for help when food ran out at his Petra Jaya rented room here.
Worse, Mostapa, 54, found that there was no money left to fend for his family.
His troubles began after his 44-year-old wife Imelda was diagnosed with schizophrenia back in 2017.
As her condition worsened, she had to quit her factory job, said Hope Place which visited the family today (Mar 4) with food supplies.
Mostapa, an assistant storekeeper found himself to be the sole breadwinner for his wife and two children, aged 8 and 12.
“If she feels overwhelmed or stressed, she will hallucinate horrible things,” he told the NGO, adding that Imelda receives treatment at Klinik Kesihatan once every three weeks.
But her breakdowns have taken a toll on Mostapa who, as a result of frequently taking leave to care for her, is now at risk of losing his job.
At the same time he has also chalked up debts everywhere which, according to him, also made him pull his children out of school last year.
In fact, his eight-year-old boy did not even go to Primary 1 as his education ended after kindergarten.
Their daughter, though only 12, does most of the household chores and looks after her younger brother and her mother when he is at work.
Imelda, who holds a disability card, receives RM300 monthly from the government and Hope Place is helping the family with basic food assistance.
Hope Place also intends to fully sponsor the children’s education at a nearby school and will provide school fees, necessities and transportation, if necessary.
For more information or to offer support, contact Hope Place or Persatuan Kebajikan Harapan Kuching (PKHK) at 082-505987.
