Sabata thanks the people for support of flag sales
PENAMPANG: Sabah AntiTuberculosis Assocciation (Sabata) Penampang Branch chairman Sylvester Spiji thanked the people of Penampang for supporting Sabata through their generous donation during the flag sales month of July.
Spiji said that his team of Sabata members and volunteers had been active in Donggongon.
“I am so happy to see that even the Kapayan assemblyman is giving his time to help in this noble fund-raising program.”
“There are those who understand about this dreadful debilitating contagious disease and without hesitation gave generously,” he said.
Spiji said they met one particular TB patient who is so happy to see Sabata being very active in raising funds as he has no doubt the money would be spent properly.
He said Sabata Penampang would organize more TB talks in the rural areas of Penampang and undertake screening program to detect TB positive cases.
Kapayan assemblyman Dr Edwin Bosi, who is a member of Sabata (Penampang Branch), also joined the flag sales and said he was concerned and worried about the increase in TB cases in Penampang.
“I am very sad because although we are now in the 21st century we are still threatened by this ancient disease.
“I am touched by the generosity of the people of Penampang and hope Sabata will achieve its target by the end of this month. I know the money will go towards searching for all the TB positive cases in Penampang and to support their treatment,” said Bosi.
Sabata is an NGO and receives a small grant from the government annually.
“I have personally spoken out in the Sabah State Assembly appealing to the government to give more funding to Sabata because as I told the August House this disease does not recognize rank and status.
“It is a silent killer and spreads very fast in our society where there are many festivals. The only way to fight this disease is to go out and screen our people thereafter to get the positive cases to undergo a sixmonth comprehensive treatment,” he said.
Bosi said he hoped the government would listen to his plea.
“As Sabah is one of the world tourism destinations, disease such as tuberculosis must be wiped out. TB gives a negative image to a country as it reveals a poor health and sanitation standard.
“I know that the Sabah Health Department is very concerned about TB and is working closely with Sabata to eradicate it,” Bosi concluded.