Welfare Department receives 55 applications for kidney treatment aid

MIRI: Fifty-five applications for kidney treatment-related assistance from all over Sarawak have been received by the Welfare Department, with Miri submitting the highest number amongst the eight divisions.

Minister of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Dato Sri

Fatimah Abdullah said as at Aug 21 this year, the department received seven applications from Kuching, three from Sri Aman, two from Sarikei, six from Sibu, 28 from Miri, three from Mukah, five from Limbang, and one from Serian.

From the total 55, 20 applications had been approved.

“The special aid is meant to ease the financial burden of kidney patients undergoing treatments including haemodialysis, and at the same time, it enables the Welfare Department to provide better services to the needy group in the state,” she said in officiating at a ceremony for the presentation of welfare assistance at Sarawak Islamic Complex here yesterday.

Fatimah said with a budget of RM4.7 million slated for this purpose this year, the assistance would cover clinical assistance such as the RM3,000 one-off arteriovenous fistula (AVF) insertion; RM240 erythropoietin (EPO) monthly injection per patient; haemodialysis treatment of RM200 per session or

RM2,400 monthly; replacement of haemodialysis machines; transportation assistance of RM50 per rural patient per treatment session; and a one-off RM5,000 transplant assistance at Kuala Lumpur Hospital.

At the event, Fatimah handed out Endowment Fund Sarawak (EFS), Bantuan Ibu Bersalin (BIB),

Kenyalang Gold Cards (KGC), Death Compassionate Assistance (BIK) and Kidney Patient Special Assistance to the respective applicants.

Also present were Minister of Transport Datuk Lee Kim Shin and Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Sebastian Ting.