10 kids undergo heart ops, five more this year
Published on: Saturday, March 09, 2024
Left to right: Dr Kristie, Lo, Dr Vivyana, Gani, Eva, young heart patient and his mother, SR Debbie, Dr Elaine Lo and Dr Wilson.
Kota Kinabalu: The Society for the Sabah Heart Fund (SOSHF) sent 10 young heart patients for corrective heart surgeries last year.
Its President Datuk Eva Susau said all the patients successfully underwent surgeries and are growing well like any other children.
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She also said the society will sponsor at least five urgent cases this year and more if more donations and funds are coming in.
“As the SOSHF celebrates its 43rd anniversary of success in sending 722 patients for medical treatments since 1981, we also wish to thank all our donors, sponsors and the State Government for their kind support over the years.
For they are the pillars of the society, for without them, we may not be able to achieve what the society has achieved to this day in supporting the needy and the less fortunate.
“It is indeed timely that as partners within Malaysia, we in Sabah also share a common vision for excellence in healthcare.
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The national success motivates and inspires us to aspire towards similar achievements, and we believe that with increased funds and autonomy in our healthcare system, Sabah has the potential to stand alongside you in this remarkable endeavour.
“Hence, we hope the aspiration of Sabah having a Congenital Heart Centre to look after over 300,000 CHD patients can be realised. Bear in mind, we have a population of around 3.9 million with a statistic of 1 in 100 individuals are born with CHD,” she said.
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Eva said SOSHF also hope for the long-awaited establishment of a specialist health centre in Sabah to address the pressing healthcare needs of its population.
“The prevalence of heart-related ailments is on the rise, both globally and within Sabah and the need for specialised cardiac care has never been more pressing.
Additionally, factors such as lifestyle changes, diet patterns and an ageing population contribute to the increasing burden of heart diseases in Sabah.
“It is no secret that the absence of a specialist health centre in Sabah exacerbates healthcare inequality as patients suffering from major heart conditions are forced to endure the inconvenience of travelling long distances, often at considerable expense, to access essential healthcare services.
“This disparity is particularly acute for those from rural and remote areas, who face additional challenges in accessing adequate medical care and experience,” she said.
According to her, having a specialist health centre can help patients in Sabah have improved access to healthcare centre that ensure patients have timely access to essential cardiac care services without the need for long-distance travel; enhanced patient outcomes by providing specialised care closer to home, patients can receive timely interventions, leading to improved treatment outcomes and reduced mortality rates and moral support; and save cost by eliminating the need for costly transportation and accommodation expenses associated with seeking medical treatment in West Malaysia would result in significant cost savings for patients and their families.
Besides that, she said a specialist health centre in Sabah would empower local healthcare professionals by providing opportunities for training, skill development and knowledge exchange, ultimately strengthening the overall healthcare system in the region.
“The establishment of Congenital Heart Disease Centre within a specialist heart health centre in Sabah is essential to address the healthcare needs of its population, particularly in the realm of heart diseases.
“By providing timely access to specialized cardiac care services, such a centre would not only improve patient outcomes but also promote healthcare equity and empower the local healthcare workforce.
“It is imperative that the Federal Government allocate sufficient funds and grant autonomy to Sabah’s healthcare system to realize this vision and ensure the wellbeing of its citizens as the States understand local population needs better.
With the decentralisation of the healthcare system, the State can design and implement healthcare policies and programmes that are tailored to their specific demographics, cultural factors and healthcare challenges...we hope to see the planning and vision for a stand-alone Sabah Heart Centre being materialised soon,” she said.
Meanwhile, Eva together with her Vice President Abdul Gani Fadzil and Honorary Secretary Melinda Lo visited the children with CHD at Paediatric Ward in Queen Elizabeth Hospital II here recently in conjunction with the Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year, where they were received by the QEH II Deputy Director Dr Vivyana and Paediatric Cardiologist Dr Kristie and her team.
They also gave each patient some goodies bags including a love gift and a red society t-shirt.
The youngest patient was Syeraz Mehzin, 1-month-old and the oldest was Tania, 11 years old.
There were four girls and five boys with some of them were on the waiting list to go to Kuala Lumpur for medical treatments.
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