A nurse attends to a patient during a home visit.
THE Palliative Care Association Miri (PCAM) is a non-governmental organisation set up 10 years ago by Dr Mieke van de Leemput from Holland and some of her friends.
Dr Mieke — as she is lovingly called — is a medical doctor who has worked with terminally ill patients in Holland. With her wealth of knowledge and experience in the field, she was ever willing to help introduce palliative care to Miri.
Soon, a centre was set up, using a small area within Miri Hospital. Although a full-time housewife with two small children at that time, Dr Mieke was able to get things organised and started quickly.
Since 2005, with support from the Miri Hospital and concerned staff, the PCAM has been looking after patients, especially those on the last leg of their life’s journey.
Many have served as paid or part-time staff and as volunteers and it is time to thank them again, this year in particular.
A decade has passed and Miri has been able to see what started off as a small idea eventually morphing into a strong NGO with a rented premises at Krokop 1.
PCAM president Dr Loh Yunn Hua has been most supportive of the volunteers, the association and the patients. Many of the original volunteers have been together since 2005. This relatively young NGO is definitely going strong.
PCAM services include the Day Care Centre at Jalan Tukang off Jalan Krokop 1, regular home visits (upon request) to registered patients (cancer or otherwise) by trained nursing staff and volunteers, counselling, fundraising and hospital visits.
Today, the paid staff consist of two trained nurses, a part-time clerk and chief coordinator Jacke Buri.
A central committee has also been formed by volunteers and others who come regularly for Day Care services (for half a day) on Tuesdays.
During Day Care mornings, patients come for massage and counselling or just to interact with the volunteers, some of whom spend time making handicrafts together for charity sales. Volunteers are always welcome to help with fundraising, and Day Care Centre services such as massage, handicrafts, counselling and home visits, among others.
Staff nurse and volunteer Dexter walk along an oil palm estate road to reach a palliative patient.
Strong team of volunteers
Today, there is a very strong registered team of volunteers.
So far this year, 62 patients needed home visits, involving the two trained nurses and one or two volunteers working as a team.
PCAM patients are referral cases. Usually, the families would ask the association for some equipment like rippled mattresses, oxygen concentrators, feeding tubes, dressings, wheelchairs and walking frames. Adult diapers and medical dressing materials are given free.
Central committee member Rose Lim said whenever she visits cancer patients, she can feel the relief of the families and this greatly energised the PCAM team.
“The families do not feel neglected and left to look after their sick loved ones all on their own,” she noted.
Another central committee member added: “These patients need happy people to come to see them. As volunteers, we provide not just medical services but also loving care. Please log on to our Facebook for updates which also help members to connect. There is also a website to inform the public. Our office issues press releases and liaises with media personnel.”
She said they often observed patients becoming animated and alive when interacting with the volunteers at the Day Care Centre, adding: “We begin to understand their sickness more and are often relieved to know there are people who can support them in a kind way.”
PCAM main committee secretary Vivian Sheila stressed: “We always do our best to help palliative patients and hope more people will join us. I also hope we will have the support of government agencies, the media and other NGOs as we all strive to make our society a better place. Nothing is achieved without a struggle. Let’s hope for a brighter future.”
Fundraising activities
Every year, PCAM raises funds through two main activities — the Half Marathon and the Annual Charity Dinner.
The Annual Charity Dinner at Imperial Hotel in Miri on April 18 will feature Sarawak’s all-time favourite singer Rose Iwanaga. This is an event PCAM has been looking forward to for more than a year.
Besides Iwanaga, there will be an accompanying band, Kevin Bong’s dance performance and line dancing.
Many of the original volunteers from Holland and other parts of the world will also be present together with the local volunteers and supportive members of the public.
PCAM needs public support to do its work. And one way the public can show support is by contributing towards the purchase of medical supplies and equipment.
Oxygen concentrates, for example, do not come cheap. Rippled mattresses also get worn and torn very quickly and should be replaced after being used a few times.
Jacke said more than RM80,000 is needed to fund the association’s activities.
“It’s good that Mirians are generous and thoughtful. We need all the help we can get,” she added.
PCAM welcomes people who are interested in serving the public in a special way.
Long time volunteer
Veronica Wong said: “We try to make the final journeys of our patients as comfortable and as cheerful as possible. We might not be able to do much but at least, our presence will help them to momentarily forget their fears of death or to smile just a little. The twinkle in their eyes is very meaningful to us.”
PCAM looks forward to a stronger future to help cancer patients and their families — and also other patients in need of free non-hospital support and care. This is a programme of which the locals should be very proud.
As Nelson Mandela once said: “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.”
The Day Care Centre is always full and sometimes there are special guests.