Palliative care body appeals for more funding

MIRI: The Palliative Care Association of Miri ( PCAM) hopes to obtain more public funds to establish its new centre as well as for various community projects in marking its 10th anniversary this year.

Towards this goal, the body plans to host its annual charity dinner this April 18 at Imperial Hotel here.

“We are hoping that many generous individuals would not only buy tickets for the event, but also donate generously in helping us to pay for bills, services, equipment and just as equally important, towards our building fund (for the new centre), which still needs some RM1 million (to be commissioned),” palliative care coordinator Jackie Buri told The Borneo Post yesterday.

She said as a non-profit body, PCAM would continuously need financial support from the public to cover the rental fees for its present day- care centre, as well as for utilities and miscellaneous services, salaries for its two fulltime nurses and administrator, purchase of disposable, consumable medical items and maintenance of its medical equipment.

“On average, our monthly expenditure is RM14,000.”

Since its inception in 2005, the Palliative Care Home Programme has conducted more than 1,000 house visits to provide care and support for patients and their families living in and around this city.

“All these services are being provided free of charge,” Jackie said.

For the record, palliative care is a medical specialty focused on the relief of pain, stress and other debilitating symptoms of any serious or terminal illness such as cancer.

The goal is to relieve the suffering of the patients and at the same time, provide the best possible quality of life and comfort for them and their families.

On the upcoming dinner themed ‘ We Care to Love, We Love to Care’, Jackie said it would include ‘a touch of culture’.

“We will present the best lineup of performers, including veteran songstress Rose Iwanaga, popular local band Meswara and the talented Kelvin Bong with his cultural dances.

“There will be lucky draws offering attractive prizes,” she said.

Tickets are priced at RM80 apiece / RM800 per table.

For bookings, contact Jackie at 019- 8251341 or PCAM secretary Vivian Sheila (012- 8771027).

For contributions via cheques, they should be made payable to ‘ Palliative Care Association of Miri’. All donations are taxdeductible.

(Front, from third right) Jackie and PCAM president Dr Loh Yunn Hua joining members of the event organising committee to promote the association’s upcoming annual charity dinner.