Foundation provides helping hand to families of ailing children
Foundation provides helping hand to families of ailing children
Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Cancer is an expensive illness. Wealthy families can afford the
treatments available both here and abroad, but it's a different
story for low-income families.
The Kartu Sehat (health card) program has been a lifeline for
these families in getting the necessary treatment for their
children.
It enables them to get free basic medical treatment at public
hospitals at all levels, and small reductions on high-priced
cancer care.
The Indonesian Childhood Cancer Foundation (YOAI) tries to
bridge the gap by cooperating with other cancer care-related
organizations and contributors.
To coincide with its 10th anniversary, the foundation has
presented seven renovated rooms to the pediatric division at
state-run Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital (RSCM). The total
value of the renovation is Rp 200 million (US$24,390).
The donation consists of a medicine preparation room, sterile
treatment room, regular treatment room, regular isolation room
and three sterile isolation rooms.
"We didn't do much for this project other than just channeling
contributions from those who care about childhood cancer,"
foundation chairwoman Rahmi A.P. Tahir said at the ceremony.
"We realize that the available facilities are not enough to
treat all children with cancer.
"The presence of isolation and treatment rooms is needed to
improve patient management, and this in turn will increase the
rate of the treatment's success."
The foundation was established on May 24, 1993, by a group of
mothers who were grateful for their children's recovery from
cancer.
Professionals, such as doctors and psychologists, as well as
interested members of the public, later joined the group.
The foundation believes that childhood cancer is curable when
caught early and it focuses its efforts on providing financial
support for cash-strapped families.
"Parents can join the foundation to get help, although we
limit our resources to those from the lower-income bracket," said
Rahmi.
"Our members will survey the living conditions of an applicant
before deciding whether to give full or only partial assistance."
Rahmi said parents with a monthly income of Rp 350,000 or
lower were entitled to full support.
Siti Hayati, the mother of five-year-old Lucky Iskandar, told
the Post that the foundation provided a reimbursement of up to 90
percent for the medication and treatment.
"Being a member of the foundation really aids us in helping
Lucky fight his leukemia," she said.
The Indonesian Childhood Cancer Foundation can be contacted at
yoai@indosat.net.id.