| James Kon |
MINISTER of Health Dato Paduka Dr Haji Mohammad Isham bin Jaafar yesterday paid a visit to the homes of five underprivileged patients in the Brunei-Muara District, who required assistance.
The minister and his delegation presented donations in the form of daily necessities and medical equipment to the patients.
Simultaneously, similar visits were carried out by other official delegations to homes of underprivileged patients in the Tutong, Belait and Temburong districts. Seventeen patients registered under the Medical Social Worker Division were visited by four delegations.
The visit in Belait District was led by Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health (MoH) Haji Abdul Manap bin Othman, while the delegation to Tutong was headed by Deputy Permanent Secretary (Professional) at the MoH Dr Haji Zulaidi bin Haji Abdul Latif, and the Temburong delegation was led by Deputy Permanent Secretary (Policy and Management) at the MoH Maswadi bin Haji Mohsin.
In an interview, the minister highlighted the importance of the visit initiative to provide assistance to the patients.
“This is an annual event conducted by the MoH together with government hospitals like Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (RIPAS) Hospital through the Medical Social Worker Division. This can help ease the burden of underprivileged patients and their families.
“The Medical Social Worker Division utilises the RIPAS Hospital welfare fund to purchase daily necessities, including pampers as well as health equipment for the patients. The fund is collected from activities organised by the hospital as well as public donations,” the minister said.
One of the homes visited was that of 11-month-old Awangku Md Ammar Zhafran bin Pengiran Mahmud, who is suffering from chronic lung disease. The baby’s parents, Pengiran Mahmud bin Pengiran Bungsu and Nuru Aisah binti Haji Munap, were on hand to welcome the minister and his delegation.
“We could see the baby is recovering. We have provided an oxygen concentrator and the baby is currently breathing with a special tube with a suction device. The mother has been trained on how to use it,” Dato Paduka Dr Haji Mohammad Isham said after the visit.
Touched by the gesture, the baby’s mother conveyed her gratitude to the Ministry of Health and the minister for the contribution, holding back tears.
Haji Abdul Manap, MoH officials and representatives of non-government organisations joined the minister on the visit.
The minister then visited the Kota Batu home of Muhammad Abdullah @ Pangabang, who is over 80 years.
The elderly was diagnosed with lung cancer eight months ago and is now wheelchair-bound. He is currently staying with his family of 20 in a rundown house.
“We are actually in need of a new home as this house leaks when it rains. One of the rooms needs a canvas to be fixed on top of the bed to prevent water from pouring in,” said his daughter Nursaadah binti Muhammad.
The other patients’ homes the minister visited were at Pengkalan Sibabau, Muara Camp and Kampong Tungku, Katok ‘A.’
Also joining the minister’s delegation were MoH officials and members of the Allied Health Association, Brunei Medical Association, Brunei Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists, Council of Women of Brunei Darussalam, International Women’s Club of Brunei and Women Graduates Association of Brunei Darussalam.