(From left) Noriah, Daud and Fatimah talking to Naim Li during the visit.
KUCHING: The younger generation is urged to take up volunteerism to give back to society, especially to help senior citizens and the disabled.
Welfare, Women and Family Development Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah who made this call said one way to do this was to register as welfare volunteers with the Social Welfare Department in their area. They will be given a week’s basic training and an appointment letter.
One of the programmes is the Home Help Services programme where volunteers go to the houses of senior citizens to clean them, and provide personal care like changing adult diapers.
“Those who want to be volunteers just have to inform the Welfare Department. Statistics show that there are only 145 volunteers (for Kuching), which is too few. Men are also welcome. They will attend to a person for about one hour, depending on the volunteers,” Fatimah said at a Home Help Services Programme at Kampung Kudei Lama yesterday.
She visited the home of bedridden Naim Li, 81, and sister Zainah Li, 77.
The two unmarried sisters previously lived together in a house in Kampung Tanjung before their adopted sister Hamidah Ali took them in.
Both sisters receive RM300 a month from the department.
“In Malaysia we encourage family or relatives to take care of senior citizens so they will be in a family environment which is better for their wellbeing.”
Fatimah said welfare volunteers will spend four hours a month helping a client, and they will be paid according to the time spent or total services provided. Volunteers will be given awards like during Senior Citizens’ Day last year.
As of Feb 21 this year, there are 1,573 welfare volunteers in the state with the breakdown according to divisions, Kota Samarahan (312), Bintulu (251), Sarikei (224), Kuching (145), Limbang (134), Sri Aman (122), Betong (96), Sibu (93), Mukah (78), Kapit (67) and Miri (51).
For the Home Help Services, there are 104 appointed welfare volunteers serving 283 senior citizens and the disabled.
During the visit, Fatimah presented food items and adult diapers, while Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Islamic Affairs) Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman donated two beds and mattresses.
Also present was State Welfare Department director Noriah Ahmad.