IS OUR SOCIETY A CARING ONE? What is a caring society and do we claim to be one in Malaysia? Who carries the responsibility of initiating this role to effect care for those who have no one to turn to? Even if there is a statutory organisation to fall back on, is it able to execute its role in an effective manner? Are the systems and such services available to the ignorant and the uninformed ones? How do they get to know if it is available to them? These are the questions one does ask when one sees the many medical plights faced by some individuals. Questions to be asked are why some unfortunate cases are not referred to the welfare department for the next best solution? Are there no welfare units within all medical institutions to handle these unfortunate cases? Are these cases discharged to face a bleak future creating a dependant group? I am sure we have in our health programme via the Ministry of Health many subsidiary units related to various forms of assistance. The question is, is it effective and has it the clout and the structural stamina to actually play its role or is it a body waiting to be guided? Mohamad Babul is from Bangladesh. A simple young man who came to Malaysia in 2012 on a work permit that he managed to arrange after borrowing money from his kith and kin in his village. His Agent obtained employment for him in a firm in Klang. In the course of his work in Malaysia, he would also undertake other jobs to earn extra if there were long breaks in between the contract he was primarily on. Thus he took up an interim job in the state of Johor. Accident date: On the 4th of January 2014, whilst he was working on a metal cutting task which involved the use of an oxyacetylene gun (which emits very high heat), the unexpected happened. A concrete beam above him collapsed. He was hurtled aside and fell on the red-hot searing gun which he was holding sustaining severe burns. As expected, he screamed because of the excruciating pain. The burn marks exposed his flesh on various parts of his body. The skin on one leg, his buttocks and parts of his back was totally peeled off to bare the flesh. He was in pain most of the time during the initial stage (see pics attached). Details of medical care since accident: Babul was immediately admitted to the General Hospital in Johor Baru. His situation was diagnosed as having sustained third degree burns. After three months he was discharged as the hospital could do no more even though recovery was slow. He was desperate; being a foreigner and having no one close to turn to he decided to contact his supervisor from his original workplace in Klang for assistance. His supervisor, a 42 year old bachelor named Lee Yong Kee (LYK) based in Klang, undertook a personal responsibility to provide help seeing that Babul had no one to turn to. LYK lives in an apartment and out of sheer compassion on seeing Babul’s predicament, took him to his own apartment. Babul was since the incident completely dependent on LYK. You could see his gratitude at LYK’s compassion and kindness. In LYK’s care Babul’s condition deteriorated. The open wounds looked bad and LYK found it difficult to manage him as the faecal matter was infecting the wound in the sacral region and buttocks. Furthermore the expenses were running high (Refer to attached pictures). LYK was forced to admit him to Klang GH where he was warded for two weeks and an urgent colostomy was performed on him. He also now uses a urinary catheter. He was discharged after two weeks and subsequent dressings thereafter were done in a private medical centre, as LYK has no nursing care experience. He bore the full cost of treatment. LYK found that medical care was far more expensive than he could afford and was taking a toll on his resources. He even hired a caregiver and after a month had to dispense the person. A nurse in the private medical centre knowing his predicament suggested he seek help from a Buddhist NGO group called Tzu Chi for assistance and that she too would raise up this matter with them as she was one of the voluntary workers in this organisation. The Tzu Chi group’s medical services team called TIMA came into the scene to offer help. They currently are providing medical care that is medical supplies, nursing care and financial assistance at intervals. Also in the meantime a Christian member from TIMA sought further assistance from the Holy Redeemer Catholic church in Klang which gave cash, provisions and moral support too. This was of further help to LKY in helping Babul. The second case wants to stay in anonymity. Briefly it is about a 35 year old male Malaysian who is paralysed waist down due to a motor accident and has a colostomy and urinary catheter too. He too gets help from these two groups. The key issue here is: -This young man from a foreign land with minimal contact here, who landed in a dire predicament has given rise to the compassionate and charitable nature of many individuals and LYK. -This has also projects the many humanitarian qualities we have in our multi-ethnic country. -Here we have a young Chinese of Buddhist faith, who without any reluctance undertook singlehandedly full responsibility for Babul who is a Muslim and a foreigner. -The TIMA Buddhist group comprising mainly of volunteers and the church were there to back these two men. Needs: Are there any other agencies that provide help ? He needs support and assistance from his Bangladeshi Embassy. The attached photos will explain what Babul went through and is still going through though he has partially recovered from the burns, his other medical problems are there. Help is also sought for Babul to sort out his work permit and if possible his repatriation to his home country until he is ready to take up another job. For those who wish to help or assist can contact Mr. Lee Yong Kee. Hand phone number is 016-3509681) / Mohamad Babul’s hand phone no. is 016-6373719 Letter from GILES ROBIN ROMAN KP No. 450921-10-5017 Address: 95, Jalan Kakak Tua, Taman Eng Ann, 41150 KLANG Tel: 019-3290943
Posted on: Wed, 22 Oct 2014 09:06:01 +0000
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