KUCHING: Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society (SCCS) president Rodney Wong has expressed his appreciation to Mubadala Petroleum for backing efforts to ensure that childhood cancer patients continue to be supported during the pandemic, as many resources have been diverted to assisting the battle against the pandemic.
On Thursday, Mubadala Petroleum, a leading international oil and gas company with operations in Malaysia, funded essential medical equipment such as patient and vital sign monitors, infusion pumps, and syringe pumps to the Paediatric Oncology Ward 2A at Sarawak General Hospital (SGH).
This was the second project that Mubadala Petroleum had carried out with SCCS, the first involving funding and supporting the playground refurbishment of the SCCS halfway home for outstation patients.
During the handover of the medical equipment at the ward, a patient’s mother, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “I am very thankful for the donation of this medical equipment as it helps the doctors and nurses to provide better care for my 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.”
Wong said since the pandemic started last year, donations had dropped and SCCS faced various challenges in carrying out its services – including restricted physical access to patients in hospital, increased costs in providing services such as transportation, and creating a safe environment at its halfway home for outstation patients.
Despite the numerous challenges brought about by the pandemic, SCCS has continued to provide full support to childhood cancer patients and their families in need.
Wong said that other than continuing their essential services, SCCS was focusing this year on improving medical support including the upgrading of the Paediatric Ward at Sibu Hospital.
“We have always worked very closely with the medical team to identify the pressing needs of the patients and strive to do as much as we can to address this.
“So, we have also expanded our support services this year to include things like transportation subsidy for patients from rural areas seeking follow ups at several outstation clinics, monthly essential item aid for palliative bedridden patients, and provision of packed breakfast for patients following up at the General Hospital on their weekly routine check-ups.”
With regard to their halfway home, he said they were in the midst of renovating another patient room for immobile patients on the ground floor to accommodate the increasing number of families staying at the halfway home during the pandemic.
“We are also upgrading our play room to create a more conducive space for counselling sessions and recreational activities for the children.”
Since its formation in 1999, SCCS has supported over 1,500 children and their families through various services provided.
