KUCHING: The Ministry of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development is thinking of providing financial aid to cancer patients seeking treatment at the hospitals in the state.
Its minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah revealed that the ministry was working on the proposal which would be brought to the Sarawak Cabinet for consideration very soon.
“The ministry is working on it and we hope that it will be approved by the State Cabinet,” she said during a talk session organised by the Centre of Technical Excellence (Centexs) entitled ‘The Important Role of Mothers in Family Institutions’ that was live streamed on Facebook yesterday (May 11).
She pointed out that although government hospitals provided services such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment, cancer patients still had to pay certain fees.
“Which is why my ministry considers it is important to provide assistance to those diagnosed with cancer as well.
“So, God willing when we present it to the State Cabinet, it will be approved so that we can help the cancer patients,” she said.
Fatimah added that the assistance would cover all types of cancer and that children as well as adult cancer patients would receive it.
She assured that her ministry would continue its initiatives to help all sectors of the society.
“For the wellbeing of the society, Sarawak is the only state that gives assistance to individuals from the cradle to death,” she said.
Fatimah explained that the Sarawak government initiatives provided through her ministry included the Endowment Fund Sarawak, post-natal care assistance or Bantuan Ibu Bersalin, Special Annual Grant for Children’s Early Education Institution, Kidney Patients Assistance, Single Mothers and Single Fathers Assistance, Kenyalang Gold Gard as well as Death Compassionate Assistance.
“The applications for various forms of assistance are always open for Sarawakians,” she said.
Fatimah also urged interested applicants to call her ministry’s office if they had any inquiries.
The ministry’s office can be contacted at 082-449140.
Meanwhile, the one-hour talk session was hosted by Centexs commercial general manager Mohamad Shahren Mohamad Yusri.
