By Koi Kye Lee
KUALA LUMPUR: Coming from Mogadishu, the strife-torn capital of Somalia, Mohamed Daud Ali has been given a new lease of life. Nine months ago, his family came to Malaysia to seek treatment for the 6-year-old's his congenital heart disease.
His father, Daud Ali Osman, 47, living and supporting his family with only US$100 (RM330) sent by his relatives once in two months, could hardly bear the cost of the surgery let alone the cost of renting a room in Malaysia.
However, a few Somali students offered him help by allowing him and his family to stay in their house for the time being.
The family of six came to Malaysia as tourists and later applied for refugee status through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees which was approved.
Mohamed was referred to the National Heart Institute (IJN) by University Malaya Medical Centre, but he was not entitled to government financial assistance since he is not Malaysian.
His father, Daud Ali Osman, 47, living and supporting his family with only US$100 (RM330) sent by his relatives once in two months, could hardly bear the cost of the surgery let alone the cost of renting a room in Malaysia.
However, a few Somali students offered him help by allowing him and his family to stay in their house for the time being.
The family of six came to Malaysia as tourists and later applied for refugee status through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees which was approved.
Mohamed was referred to the National Heart Institute (IJN) by University Malaya Medical Centre, but he was not entitled to government financial assistance since he is not Malaysian.
Through the IJN Foundation, funds were raised for the surgical procedure which costs about RM14,000.
Nu Skin Malaysia was the first organisation to pledge a contribution of RM10,000 for the surgery and yesterday, it decided to help pay the balance of the bill.
Meanwhile, IJN raised RM2,000 from its staff and the public to help Mohamed.
Yesterday, he successfully underwent the surgery to close a blood vessel.
Daud Ali, who was grateful for the funds raised to help his son, said Mohamed was feeling better.
Nu Skin Malaysia has an established partnership with the IJN Foundation since 2008.
The organisation pledges an annual contribution of RM100,000 to help the less fortunate children suffering from heart ailments to undergo treatment in IJN.
Nu Skin Malaysia was the first organisation to pledge a contribution of RM10,000 for the surgery and yesterday, it decided to help pay the balance of the bill.
Meanwhile, IJN raised RM2,000 from its staff and the public to help Mohamed.
Yesterday, he successfully underwent the surgery to close a blood vessel.
Daud Ali, who was grateful for the funds raised to help his son, said Mohamed was feeling better.
Nu Skin Malaysia has an established partnership with the IJN Foundation since 2008.
The organisation pledges an annual contribution of RM100,000 to help the less fortunate children suffering from heart ailments to undergo treatment in IJN.
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