NGO aid reaches paralysed woman, elderly mother facing hardship
by Lim How Pim · Borneo Post OnlineKUCHING (April 7): Hope Place Kuching is reaching out to a family of three from Padawan who are struggling to put food on the table.
One of the family members, Mamim Tu’u, 63, has been physically challenged since childhood and has never worked due to illiteracy.
“Mamim lives with her younger sister and their mother in Padawan.
“She is paralysed from the waist down. Physically, her legs appear to have no muscle at all, and her bones are soft,” the charitable organisation said in a statement on Monday following a recent visit.
Her mother, Rian, 87, said Mamim was born normal but became physically challenged after a severe high fever at the age of five.
Although she survived the illness, Mamim was unable to use her legs since.
Their old wooden house is not wheelchair-friendly, forcing her to push and pull her body to move around.
Her sister, Yai, 55, is the sole caregiver, taking care of all the chores while looking after both Mamin and their elderly mother.
“The mother used to plant local herbs for sale and was capable of making handicrafts.
“She also made rattan baskets known as ‘tambok’.
“However, her vision has deteriorated with age, and she has stopped working,” Hope Place said.
The non-governmental organisation (NGO) added that the family currently has no stable income and relies on Mamim’s niece for financial assistance.
According to Hope Place, the family’s home is located in a remote area across the Semadang River.
“The only way to get to Kampung Pangkalan Ampat is via an old suspension bridge.
“We had to carry all the food aid across the swaying bridge to reach Mamim’s house,” it said.
Hope Place also expressed its appreciation to volunteers who contributed to supporting families in need like Mamim’s.
Donations can be deposited directly to its Maybank account 511289001160, or via the S Pay Global QR code on its Facebook page.
For more information, call Hope Place on 082-505987 or 013-5672775.