Perak Palliative Care Society needs funds to continue helping terminally-ill patients, to hold charity food fair on May 13
IPOH, May 5 — At 76 years of age, retired nurse Juliana Koh Choy Fong should be enjoying life.
Instead, the mother of two has had a curve ball thrown at her when her eldest daughter Ng Poh Anne suffered a relapse of brain tumour after almost 30 years.
Koh said her 48-year-old daughter started losing her memory in January.
“At that time, she told me she could not remember where she kept her ATM card nor the pin number.”
After seeing her driving dangerously, something Ng had not done before, Koh decided to take her daughter to undergo a scan to the brain which showed the tumour had returned.
“The neurosurgeon treating her said he could operate on my daughter but there are just too many spots.”
After a discussion among the family, they decided not to go ahead with the surgery.
“Even my daughter refused to undergo the surgery,” she said.
Retired nurse Juliana Koh Choy Fong attending to her daughter Ng Poh Anne, who suffers from brain tumour. — Picture by Farhan Najib
And on March 1, Ng went home and a nurse from the Perak Palliative Care Society (PPCS) visited her weekly to follow-up on her condition.
According to PPCS acting medical director Dr Kweh Ting Yi, their role was to provide pain and symptom control with advice on nursing care.
“We also loan out medical equipment and provide bereavement support,” he said, adding that their services are free but costs on medication and dressings are to be borne by the patients and their family.
Perak Palliative Care Society acting medical director Dr Kweh Ting Yi said their role was to provide pain and symptom control with advice on nursing care. — Picture by Farhan Najib
Former caterer Ang Tek Yoong is thankful to the society’s nurses for helping to manage his pain.
The 81-year-old, who is suffering from bone cancer, sought the help of the society after a fall.
“I became temporarily immobile and someone recommended I seek the society’s help,” said the father of one daughter.
Through the society, he was loaned a bed, walking aid and wheelchair.
“A nurse also visits me where she would advise my wife Foo Mee Wan on how best to look after me.”
PPCS president Dr Koh Wai Keat said the society is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation that is committed to providing palliative care for terminally ill cancer patients in Perak, regardless of their age, race or religion.
Perak Palliative Care Society president Dr Koh Wai Keat said they hoped to raise RM100,000 from the May 13 charity food fair. — Picture by Farhan Najib
“The society aims to improve the quality of life of patients and their families by alleviating their pain and suffering through palliative care services,” he said.
PPCS’s team of doctors and nurses, added Dr Koh, visits and monitors patients at their homes, providing them with medical equipment and training family caregivers on how to care for the patient.
“These services are provided free of charge.”
Since its establishment in 1995, PPCS has provided palliative care services to 7,613 registered patients.
Last year, the society served 634 new patients and 4,729 home visits by five nurses and one doctor.
“While officially we cover a 20km radius from Ipoh, our team actually goes as far as Kuala Kangsar up north to Tapah down south,” added Dr Koh.
To continue funding its services, the society will be having a charity food fair on May 13 at the PPCS premises at 54, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, Ipoh from 10am to 4pm.
Coupons at RM10 per booklet are available now and can be purchased from our premises Monday to Friday between 9am and 4pm.
He added that the society hoped to raise RM100,000 from the event.
All donations to the society are also tax-exempted.
For further details, contact the society at 05-5464732 or email: admin@ppcs.org.my.
