MIRI: Columbia Asia Hospital appeals for more people and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to be involved in the Cleft Lip and Palate Charity Campaign.
Making the call, its general manager Yeoh Kim Looi urged people to do their part in providing accommodation as well as contributing food, expenses and other necessities.
“It is our effort to show sympathy and concern for the unfortunate. All contributions will go to help patients undergoing treatment,” she told The Borneo Post recently.
The 11th Cleft Lip and Palate Charity Project is back with assessment tests and repair surgeries to be performed in late November this year.
“But this time, it will be held in our sister hospital in Bintulu, taking into view that many of our patients are from the surrounding areas in this division,” she said.
This charity project initiated by Cleft Lip and Palate Association Malaysia (Clapam) is fully supported by Columbia Asia Hospital-Miri which provides the venue and operation facilities, as well as other necessary assistance.
It is meant especially for rural children born with cleft lips and palates with a fotal family income of below RM1,000 a month.
Clapam is responsible for the cost of the whole treatment which is given free to the deserving patients.
Registration is ongoing and those who partially fulfill the criteria may call the hospital at 085-437755 for more detailed information.
Alternatively, they can also fax their particulars to 085-425677.
Prior to the operation, patients will have to undergo an assessment test to determine their health status and eligibility.
Base on the usual procedure, surgeries will be done in stages.
Since its inception in 2004, the free repair campaign has benefitted more than 180 people throughout the state.
About 85 per cent of them are children, both from the urban and rural areas.
Yeoh pointed out that the ongoing campaign is intended to help those born with the deformities and give them a normal look.
“It may not give a 100 per cent normal look, but at least the surgery would help correct the deformity,” Yeoh said.
Those who wish to support the charity campaign, financially and in kinds, may call the hospital for an arrangement.