Kota Kinabalu: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) Sabah Branch has called for a dedicated halfway house for children undergoing cancer treatment at the Sabah Women and Children Hospital, particularly those from rural districts.
Sabah MMA chairman Dr Brandon Patrick Senagang said the hospital’s Paediatric Oncology Unit receives about 80 to 100 new childhood cancer cases annually, with almost half coming from outside Kota Kinabalu, including Pitas, Kota Marudu and Kudat.
He said some children, particularly those with acute leukaemia, require up to eight months of treatment in Kota Kinabalu, placing a financial and logistical burden on families who must cover accommodation, transport and daily living costs.
Although the existing Ronald McDonald House provides accommodation for families receiving treatment at the hospital, its capacity is insufficient to meet the needs of all paediatric oncology patients requiring longer stays, as it also serves other medical departments.
Dr Brandon said the Sabah Government could lead efforts to provide affordable accommodation near the hospital through an existing government property or collaboration with charitable organisations and the private sector, as Sabah MMA handed over 20 care kits for newly diagnosed paediatric cancer patients on Tuesday in conjunction with Paediatric Cancer Awareness Month.
