Kota Kinabalu: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) Sabah Branch has urged the State government to take the lead in establishing a dedicated halfway house for children undergoing cancer treatment and their caregivers, particularly those from rural and remote districts who face prolonged stays in Kota Kinabalu.
Its Chairman, Dr Brandon Patrick Senagang said such a facility was urgently needed as the Paediatric Oncology Unit at the Sabah Women and Children Hospital recorded approximately 80 to 100 new childhood cancer cases annually, with nearly half involving patients from outside Kota Kinabalu.
He said many of the children came from distant districts, including Pitas, Kota Marudu and Kudat, while a large proportion were diagnosed with acute leukaemia, requiring intensive treatment that could last up to eight months.
“For families living several hours away, the challenge is therefore not limited to the illness itself. They must also find accommodation, bear transportation and daily living costs, and in many cases leave behind employment and other family members for extended periods.
“I believe this is an area where the Sabah State Government can and should take the lead. These are Sabah children, and many of the families affected come from our most distant and underserved districts,” he said in a statement Tuesday.
Dr Brandon said the situation placed an enormous burden on families, particularly those from rural communities and lower-income households, making affordable accommodation near the hospital essential.
He said although the existing Ronald McDonald House provided valuable accommodation assistance, its capacity was insufficient to accommodate all paediatric oncology families requiring long-term stays, as it also served patients from other medical departments, including adult oncology.
Dr Brandon said the proposed halfway house could be established by providing or converting an existing government property near the hospital, or through collaboration with charitable organisations, the private sector and other partners.
He said having a dedicated facility would reduce unnecessary travel, ease the financial burden on families and help ensure that children could continue and complete their treatment without accommodation becoming another obstacle.
Meanwhile, in conjunction with Paediatric Cancer Awareness Month, MMA Sabah today handed over 20 care kits to the hospital’s Paediatric Oncology Unit for newly diagnosed childhood cancer patients.
Dr Brandon also expressed hope that the contribution would provide comfort and support to children and their families as they embarked on what could be a long and challenging treatment journey.
