The patients with their parents and guardians together with CAH-M staff, its surgical team and donors.
MIRI: The Cleft Lip and Palate Association Malaysia (Clapam) through the Columbia Asia Hospital-Miri (CAH-M) is staying committed to help those with cleft lips and palates by performing corrective surgery for free.
The charity project that began in 2004 is now on its 16th campaign which began yesterday, with surgery being done on 28 patients and performed in stages until July 31.
The patients consist of Ibans and Malays (six each), Chinese (four), Kenyah, Penan and Kelabit (three each) and Melanau, Sebob and Berawan (one each).
They are from Miri, Bintulu, Sibu, Kuching, Marudi, Mukah, Niah, Bario and villages in the interior of Baram.
“The youngest patients are only a year old, and there are five of them.
“The rest are one to 12 years old, 12 to 18 years old and adults aged 18 and above,” CAH-M’s marketing executive Goh Teck Nei explained.
The surgery was conducted by renowned surgeon Dr Kim Tan and his surgical team from Pantai Hospital in Kuala Lumpur and assisted by CAH-M staff.
Columbia Asia Hospital-Miri which helped organise the campaign provided the operation venue and other necessary assistance to the patients and their guardians.
The project is made possible with the donations and sponsorships from various individuals, firms, hotels and companies.
On Saturday, CAH-M received RM24,698 from 17 companies and individuals to finance the charity project.
The donors were CAH-M (RM33,921 from its Clapam Walk for Smiles and Charity Movie), Piasau Playschool (RM20,000), Dayang Enterprise Sdn Bhd (RM10,000), Minister of Welfare, Women and Family Development Datuk Fatimah Abdullah (RM10,000), Michael Lim Hwee Kian and friends (RM28,000) as well as the Tenby Parent-Teacher-Association (RM3,500).
Others include Jenny van Luik-Wee and Yii Hien Tak from Merbau Furniture (RM3,000 each), Jong Nam Kiau (RM3,100), Piasau Boat Club (RM1,500), Miri Marriott Resort and Spa (RM1,327.55), Helen Liu and John Fabian (RM800), Maria Isabel Navarro Torroba (RM250), Chin Boon Niap (RM300), Aline Lee and Ferjus Jawi (RM500 each) and Suasana Menteri Engineering Services (RM5,000).
Meanwhile, Roslin Ladun of Long Lawen in Sungai Tekulang in the interior of Belaga was overjoyed that her two-year-old child would finally get the complimentary corrective surgery.
The 37-year-old mother of six children learnt of the charity project when she was visiting Bintulu.
“Wasting no time, we quickly registered our child with CAH-M and our application was approved.
“We are thankful to both the hospital, Clapam and the surgical team for the job well done and their efforts to bring back smiles to all those with cleft lips and palates,” she told The Borneo Post when met at the hospital yesterday.
The privilege is provided for free to those eligible, especially those in rural areas born with cleft lips and palates and with a total family income of less than RM2,000 per month.