Sarawak Shell staff latest to aid palliative care association
MIRI: Efforts by Palliative Care Association of Miri ( PCAM) in providing free services in caring and supporting the terminally ill and their families in and around Miri, continue to receive strong support.
Yesterday, 25 Sarawak Shell staff from its Portfolio of Projects unit visited the association’s daycare centre at Jalan Taman Piasau Edar in Piasau Garden.
Project manager Gabriel Yii said the visit – their first – was part of their community service project.
“Our aim in visiting PCAM today ( yesterday) is not merely to give back to the community by donating some goods like diapers and milk powder for their patients, but also to get indepth first-hand information on how PCAM operates and, most importantly, what is palliative care,” he said.
Besides donating goods including diapers and powdered milk, the team also provided breakfast and lunch for volunteers, patients and their family members who come for the PCAM day- care session – held every Tuesday from 9am to noon.
Among the activities held are massage session, handicraft making, symptom assessment and gatherings for patients, families and volunteers.
Earlier, the group was briefed on the activities and functions of PCAM by volunteers led by PCAM secretary Vivien Sheila. Also present were PCAM vice president Veronica Wong and treasurer Richard Wong.
Vivien said PCAM was set up in 2005 to provide free palliative care to the public. It enables volunteers and medical personnel to visit terminally ill patients in their homes to manage symptoms like pain and bleeding, guide family members on how to cope, and give advice on diet and more.
She said apart from welcoming volunteers, the association is in dire need of funds as well as medical-related equipment such as oxygen concentrators, ripple mattresses, hospital beds, wheelchairs and nebuliser machines which are loaned free- of- charge to terminally ill patients.
“Being a non-profit making association giving free palliative care and services to the target group, we are in dire need of public funding to pay the salary of our three nurses and also to train them to upgrade their knowledge and also renew their licences.
“In addition, we need to pay the house loan for our day-care centre, bringing out total operating cost to about RM15,000 per month,” she said.
Members of the public wanting further enquiries or wishing to donate can call the centre on 0128456480, Richard on 013- 8303827 or Vivian on 012- 8771027.