IN line with its mission to demonstrate holistic care for all, the Penang Adventist Hospital today announced that a total of 20 residents from the Silver Jubilee Home for the Aged will undergo cataract surgeries for free in stages.
Hospital chief executive officer Ronald Koh said these 20 cataract cases were identified during a health screening programme that was organised by the hospital at the home on April 2 this year.
“Our hospital team, including one of our doctors, community health and charity teams and eye clinic staff nurses, offered health screenings, such as body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, blood glucose and eye check on the said day.
“Out of the 60 residents that we had screened, 20 were found to be diagnosed with cataracts.
“Cataract is one of the common conditions seen in the elders. We are glad that we can assist them in restoring their vision.
“Charity has always been one of the main missions of the hospital, and we will continue with our goodwill for the benefit of the people, especially the underprivileged groups,” Koh said in his speech during a brief ceremony at the home’s premises today.
It is learnt that the hospital is expected to spend RM92,000 from its Welfare Fund to support this initiative.
Relatively, Koh also said that the hospital would cover an additional cost of RM2,500 per patient that may require cataract surgery under general anaesthesia.
Meanwhile, the home’s executive adviser and trustee Tan Sri Tan Kok Ping, extended his heartfelt appreciation to the hospital for their commitment to playing an integral part in restoring vision for the affected.
“Right after April 2 when the health screening programme ended, the team from Penang Adventist Hospital was kind enough to interview each resident individually to further understand their conditions.
“A month later, some of the affected residents were called to the hospital to get their eyes scanned before further proceedings. Everything was just swift.
“We are truly grateful and appreciative that, despite their tight schedules, the medical team was able to cater to the needs of others with such promptness,” Tan said during his speech.
At present, the residents have been sent to the hospital for advanced eye assessment and assigned dates for the surgeries in stages.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis