300,000 patients – so Sabah needs heart centre
Published on: Sunday, March 10, 2024
By: Mohd Izham Bin Hashim
Eva (centre) talking to a young patient with CHD during the SOSHF’s visit to the Paediatric ward of Queen Elizabeth Hospital II, Kota Kinabalu.
Kota Kinabalu: The Society for Sabah Heart Fund (SOSHF) reiterated its call for a heart centre in Sabah to meet the pressing healthcare needs of its growing population.
Its President, Datuk Eva Susau, said such facility is needed to look after over 300,000 patients suffering from congenital heart disease (CHD) in the State.
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“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,” she said.
Furthermore, Eva said those from rural and remote areas face more difficulties accessing adequate medical care and services.
“Based on statistics, one in 100 individuals are born with CHD, while Sabah has a population of 3.9 million,” she said.
Alarmingly, she said the prevalence of heart-related ailments is on the rise in Sabah and globally which underscored the need for a specialised centre for cardiac care.
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Eva noted lifestyle changes, diet patterns and an ageing population are additional factors attributing to the increase of heart diseases in Sabah.
She said the lack of such facilities requires patients to board flights to get treatments in Peninsular Malaysia which disrupts their daily life.
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Meanwhile, those growing into adults with CHD may require special care under a different team of specialists.
“However, if these challenges are addressed it could provide numerous benefits which include improved access to healthcare, enhanced patient outcomes which allow patients to receive timely interventions, leading to improved treatment outcomes and reduced mortality rates, eliminating the need for cost savings means cost savings for patients and their families, and empowerment of local healthcare professionals in Sabah,” added Eva.
She noted the SOSHF is seeking donations from the public to help reach its aim of sponsoring five more cases in urgent need of corrective heart surgeries this year.
Last year, Eva said the Society sent 10 young heart patients for corrective heart surgeries. All are successful and the patients are growing well like any other children.
“If more donations and funds are coming in, we hope to send at least five urgent cases this year,” she said.
The SOSHF also organised a visit to children with CHD at the paediatric ward of Queen Elizabeth Hospital II, Kota Kinabalu.
Among those in the SOSHF entourage include Vice President, Hj Abdul Ghani and Honorary Secretary Melinda Lo who were received by Queen Elizabeth II Hospital Deputy Director, Dr Vivyana and Paediatic Cardiologist, Dr Kristie and her team.
The youngest patient, Syeraz Mehzin is only a month old while the eldest is 11 year old Tania, who were among the four girls and five boys on the waiting list for medical treatment in Kuala Lumpur.
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