by Saiful Bahari, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on September 7, 2012, Friday
CONGRATULATIONS: Fatimah (centre) presenting a certificate of achievement to one of the patients who attended the session at the centre as Azerina (second left), Empiang (left) and an unidentified person look on. Photo by Chimon Upon
KUCHING: There is a need to educate the rural community on stroke and its threats, symptoms and the importance of getting proper treatment and rehabilitation.
Women, Welfare and Family Development Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah, who pointed this out, said there were many cases of people in the rural areas, especially senior citizens, refusing to go for treatment or rehabilitation due to the belief that doing so would make matters worse.
Some of those in the rural were not well informed of the medical conditions or complications, and they had the perception that by going for treatment in hospitals, the condition will worsen, said Fatimah, who pointed out that some still hung to the belief that there was no necessity to seek medical treatment in hospitals.
This mentality, according to her, needed to be changed as some cases, especially those in the early stages, could be cured.
She was speaking at the Hari Raya Ramah Tamah for Laila Stroke Rehabilitation Centre and the presentation of the centre from Sarawak Heart Foundation to Lembaga Amanah Kebajikan Datul Hana (LAKDH) at the centre in Jalan Keretapi yesterday.
The minister said there were many instances when stroke patients were cured completely after undergoing rehabilitation.
While it takes time, commitment and discipline, improvement can be seen from as early as three months if the patient goes for the daily routine, she said.
On the centre, she expressed relief that several quarters had lent a helping hand to ensure the wish of the late Datuk Amar Puan Sri Laila Taib, the person behind the setting up of the centre, was materialised.
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‘Need to change mindset of rural folk on stroke’