Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Somali Refugee Thanks IJN For Son's Treatment, More Help Sought

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 12 (Bernama) -- A Somalian refugee is very thankful that his six-year-old son who suffers heart problems has been given a new lease of life thanks to the National Heart Institute (IJN).

His son, Mohamed Daud Ali Monday successfully underwent surgery to shut off a problematic blood vessel in a heart valve at the premier heart hospital.

"I wish to express my thanks to the people at IJN for the assistance rendered to my son and I am very happy my son will be able to live a normal life like other children," said the boy's father, who only gave his name as Ali.

Speaking through an interpreter at a press conference at the hospital Tuesday, Ali also thanked IJN for rendering assistance to his family since his son's case was brought to the attention of Yayasan IJN (the IJN Foundation) by the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre in May last year.

IJN Foundation general manager Alawiyah Yussof (Rpt Yussof), who was also present at the press conference, said the total cost of surgery and treatment for Mohamed Daud was estimated at RM17,000 and that so far, RM12,000 had been collected.

"We helped him get funding by writing to private companies and NU Skin was the first to respond with RM10,000," she said after handing over a hamper donated by NU Skin Malaysia to Mohamed Daud.

Since 2008, the company has also been donating RM100,000 to the IJN Foundation annually .

In Mohamed Daud's case, IJN staff also passed around the hat and collected RM2,000 and the boy needed RM4,000 more, said Alawiyah.

"Since he is not a Malaysian and is not entitled to government financial assistance, we are trying to raise funds to help the boy," she said.

Alawiyah said Mohamed Daud's family had been given refugee status by the United Nations High Commissioner for refugees (UNHCR).

However, UNHCR could only shoulder RM300 for outpatient charges and not the treatment procedure.

-- BERNAMA

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