KOTA KINABALU: In conjunction with Paediatric Cancer Awareness Month, the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) Sabah Branch today handed over 20 care kits for newly diagnosed paediatric oncology patients to the Paediatric Oncology Unit at Sabah Women and Children’s Hospital in Kota Kinabalu.
“Although this contribution is modest, we hope it will offer some comfort and support to children and their families at the beginning of what is often a long and difficult treatment journey,” stated Dr. Brandon Patrick Senagang Chairman Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) Sabah Branch.
In a statement, he shared, “The Paediatric Oncology Unit sees approximately 80 to 100 new cases of childhood cancer each year. Almost half of these children come from outside Kota Kinabalu, including rural and remote districts such as Pitas, Kota Marudu and Kudat. Many are diagnosed with acute leukaemia. Treatment is intensive and prolonged, and some patients may need to remain in Kota Kinabalu for up to eight months.”
For families who live several hours away, the challenges extend beyond the illness itself. They must find accommodation, cover transport and daily living costs, and often take extended leave from work and leave other family members behind. This places an enormous strain on any family, particularly those from rural communities and lower-income households.
The existing Ronald McDonald House provides invaluable accommodation for families whose loved ones are receiving treatment at Sabah Women and Children’s Hospital. However, it also serves families using other services, including adult oncology and other medical departments. Its capacity is therefore insufficient to meet the needs of all paediatric oncology families requiring longer-term accommodation, he shared.
“Sabah urgently needs a dedicated temporary halfway house or accommodation facility for children undergoing cancer treatment and their caregivers. It need not be extravagant. Families need a safe, clean and affordable place near the hospital to stay during the prolonged phases of treatment. Such a facility would reduce unnecessary travel, ease financial pressure and, importantly, help children continue and complete treatment without accommodation becoming another obstacle.”
“We believe the Sabah State Government can and should take the lead. These are Sabah’s children, and many of the families affected come from our most remote and underserved districts. Supporting them through one of the most difficult periods of their lives is a responsibility we should be prepared to take on as a state.”
This could be achieved by providing or converting an existing government property near the hospital, or by working with charitable organisations, the private sector and other partners, he said adding, the priority is to recognise the need and begin developing a practical solution.
“As we mark Paediatric Cancer Awareness Month, we should remember that fighting childhood cancer involves more than providing chemotherapy, medicines and specialist care. It also means ensuring that a child from Pitas, Kota Marudu, Kudat or anywhere else in Sabah has a fair opportunity to complete treatment, regardless of how far their family lives from Kota Kinabalu.”
No Sabahan child fighting cancer should face additional barriers to treatment simply because their family has nowhere to stay.-pr/BNN
