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Free operations for 122 cataract patients

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THE cataract patients waiting patiently for their turn for the cataract operations organised by SEB and the Ministry of Health.
(FROM left) Nyabong, Jiwari, Jamit and Nicholas having a conversation with
one of the cataract patients.
THE cataract patients waiting patiently for their turn for the cataract operations
organised by SEB and the Ministry of Health.
Bukit Goram rep Jefferson Jamit and Pelagus rep Wilson Nyabong (centre) with Jiwari (standing front row at 2nd right)
posing for an album with the cataract patients at Kapit Hospital.

KAPIT: Some 122 cataract patients in Kapit have benefited from a free cataract operations held at Kapit Hospital that began yesterday morning. The three-day cataract operation from 14-16 December was organised Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) as one of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects in collaboration with Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia (KKM) and Kapit Hospital.

The Assistant General Manager Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of SEB, Jiwari Abdullah disclosed that the majority of the cataract patients were the senior citizens where they were operated by six specialist doctors. He added that 96 of the 122 patients had been selected to undergo the cataract operation whereas 26 other patients will undergo the pterygium operation.

The CSR programme has benefited the cataract patients in the division as they are providing free cataract operations that could be a relief for those patients who could not afford to have the operation elsewhere due to financial constraint, he said.

“In addition we are engaging the service of six specialist doctors with three of whom are from Kuching, two from West Malaysia and one specialist doctor from Miri to carry out the operation to enable the patients to have a better eye-sight,” he said adding that the free cataract operations are carried out during SEB CSR programme only.

Jiwari disclosed that this was the first cataract operation under their CSR in the state so far that incurred a cost of more than RM200,000 and was hopeful that such CSR programme could be continued in the future for the benefit of the community in the state. He added that over the past few months they had been visiting cataract patients at their longhouses in upper Baleh with the assistance of the volunteer medical team from the Ministry of Health.

“We are providing the services of cataract screening as we are aware that many of the patients are residing in the rural areas and could not afford to come to the hospital for cataract checking. Once we have identified they have cataract problems, only then we would call them to under the operation” he said.

State Assemblyman for Bukit Goram, Jefferson Jamit Unyat and State Assemblyman for Pelagus, Wilson Nyabong Ijang and entourage had the opportunity to visit the patients for the cataract operations to give them their moral support. Speaking to the press Jamit thanked SEB and the volunteer team from the Ministry of Health for choosing Kapit as a venue for their CSR programme that he said had benefited the cataract patients in Kapit.

He added that the CSR programme was timely to provide free cataract operation for the less fortunate and the low income group.

Meanwhile Nyabong was hopeful that the CSR programme could be continued in the years to come for the benefit of the cataract patients especially those residing in the rural areas and commended SEB and KKM for their exemplary service to the community. One of the cataract patients identified as Gulang Maur,53, from Rumah Jimbun, Sepulau, Baleh expressed her thankfulness to be selected as one of the patients for the cataract operation for free.

“I must thank SEB and the volunteer team from KKM for the successful operation. At least I can save the cost of operation and hopefully I could regain my sight normally,” she said.

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