Sarawak govt fully supports palliative care services, provides financial support
KUCHING: The State government fully supports palliative care services and will provide financial support to these non-governmental organisations (NGOs) providing the services to members of the public, said Minister of Welfare, Community Well-Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah.
She said the Sarawak government’s emphasis was not only on physical development but also giving equal emphasis on the development of social well-being.
Hence, she advised the four organisations involved in providing palliative care services in Sarawak – the National Cancer Society Malaysia Sarawak Branch, Palliative Care Ward of Sarawak General Hospital, Kuching Life Care Society and Two Tree Lodge Hospice Kuching to further collaborate and chart their strategic plan to raise their standard of services.
Fatimah said she would call for a meeting with representatives of these four organisations to listen to their needs, plans and chart the strategic plan together.
“These four organisations need to chart their strategic and holistic plan and resources in order to improve their services, resources and outreach programmes for palliative care services in Sarawak,” she said in her speech after attending talks by representatives of these four organisations during her visit to Two Tree Lodge Hospice Kuching Palliative Care Service, here yesterday.
Praised the roles played by these four organisations all these while in supplementing each other’s needs, thus benefiting the patients and their family members.
“It’s a noble cause which needs the support of everybody,” she said, adding that the state government will definitely support the programme.
She suggested that more personnel needed to be trained and more training should be organised for volunteers, adding that the media should also be involved to give more publicity about palliative care services.
“At the moment not many people know about palliative care services and there is also a need to get more people to support these services,” he added.
On financial funding and premises to operate, Fatimah said she will look into their financial need but advised them to forward their concrete plans to her ministry.
Those who gave talks were Dr Angel Wong Yin Yee from Palliative Care Ward of Sarawak General Hospital, medical oncologist and medical director of Two Tree Lodge Hospice Kuching Dr Winnie Ling Hui Yee, palliative care nurse of the National Cancer Society of Malaysia Sarawak branch Nooraish Shamat, a representative from Kuching Life Care Society Hung Sung Huo and palliative care nurse of Two Tree Lodge Hospice Kuching Niensi Atarah Akiu. – Bernama