KOTA KINABALU: A fund has been set up to assist underprivileged children in Sabah with their medical needs.
Dubbed Sabah Children Fund, it is a joint effort by charitable group Osimal Foundation and the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA).
Assistance offered through the fund includes medical equipment, money for special medication and milk formula, and travel expenses for doctor and hospital appointments.
At a recent event, Osimal trustee Datuk Nellie Sikodol and MMA Sabah chairman Dr Brandon Patrick Senagang handed over 29 cans of anti-reflux milk formula to Dr Ng Su Fang of the Sabah Women and Children's Hospital in Likas.
“This special formula is given to children with certain medical conditions, and they will require long-term supply even after they are discharged from hospital,” said Osimal founder Tan Sri Richard Malanjum, a former chief justice of Malaysia.
The fund, established in April, also supplied an infusion pump to a patient after their discharge from hospital.
Richard said these were part of the foundation's charitable works, in addition to building houses for lower-income families, and providing scholarships and financial assistance to disaster victims.
“The fund is greatly needed to serve children and their families affected with chronic medical illnesses, especially those from the lower income group,” he said.
He added that they welcomed public donations which would enable them to reach out to more children in need.
“We are looking forward to helping children with chronic illnesses like thalassaemia, cancer and in the long run, tackling malnutrition.
“In addition, we would like to work with the Malaysian Association of Paediatric Palliative Care to establish Sabah’s first children's hospice in aid of children suffering from life-limiting illnesses,“ he added.
Those wishing to know more may visit www.osimal.org.
