Fatimah: Sarawak all for setting-up of palliative care centre
KUCHING: The Ministry of Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development is ready to give its support for the establishment of a palliative care centre in the state.
Its minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said the initiative taken by a non- governmental organisation ( NGO) to set up the centre is something that is very noble.
“This is a very good role and the NGO should be praised for giving hope to patients including their family members,” she said after attending a briefing with Two Tree Lodge Hospice Kuching, Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) Palliative Care Centre, National Cancer Association, and Kuching Life Care during her visit to Two Tree Lodge Hospice Kuching here yesterday.
Also present were Two Tree Lodge Hospice Kuching medical director Dr Winnie Ling Hui Yee, SGH Palliative Care Centre representative Dr Angel Wong, National Cancer Association chairman Dr Lam Chin Chyou and Kuching Life Care founder Hung Sung Huo.
Fatimah also expressed her confidence that such service will continue to receive support from the Sarawak government.
“This is very much welcomed and greatly appreciated by the state government. This is because it is very important for us to provide quality life to patients, especially those who cannot be saved.”
As such, she commended the efforts of Two Tree Lodge Hospice Kuching, SGH Palliative Care Centre, National Cancer Association and Kuching Life Care for cooperating in playing their role to provide palliative care service in the state.
She also hoped that the four organisations can provide the service under one roof so as to give comprehensive palliative care.
Palliative care is a service provided to terminally ill patients who may no longer be able to survive the illness, with the service designed to boost their quality of life.