Hope Place helps struggling mum with ailing infant
KUCHING: Hope Place Kuching brings hope and aid to a 43-yearold widow with an ailing infant and a 15-year-old son under her care.
Sharifah Masnita Wan Bet’s husband died of heart attack in December last year, and she has become the family breadwinner since then.
Hope Place volunteers recently visited the family at their small rented room at a shoplot at Nanas Road here.
“Her baby boy was recently been admitted to the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) for a week due to complex febrile seizure,” said Hope Place in a statement.
“According to doctors, the baby is allergic to infant formulas and needs to be breastfed.
“So for now, the mother is breastfeeding the baby, but at times, she is unable to produce enough milk and because of this, she can only give the baby water.”
It is informed that Sharifah Masnita currently works as a kindergarten assistant in the Matang area.
Having no transport of their own, she and her baby have to stay at the kindergarten premises on weekdays, and would only return to their rented shoplot room at Jalan Nanas on weekends.
“We are told that such an arrangement is meant to enable her eldest child attend school in the nearby area.”
According to Sharifah Masnita, she would prepare a five-day food supply for her son every weekend.
“Knowing that such an arrangement is not ideal for the family, she hopes to find a place to stay in Matang, nearer to the kindergarten,” said Hope Place in a statement.
“In view of her baby’s health conditions, the widow struggles to make ends meet.
“She conducts a religious class online.
“Sharifah Masnita has just applied for Tabung Baitulmal Sarawak’s assistance, under children’s aid,” said Hope Place, adding that it is currently providing food aid to the family on a regular basis.
Delivering food aid and other essential needs to some 70 underprivileged widows and single mothers, Hope Place also took the opportunity to wish these strong, resilient women a ‘Happy Mother’s Day’.
“A mother’s love is the beacon that lights our way through life’s journey, and her unconditional support is the rock that we can always lean on,” it said.
Hope Place welcomes all donations and will issue receipt upon request. Donations can be made directly to its Maybank account (number 511289001160), or by scanning the SPay Global QR code on its Facebook page.
For more information, call Hope Place on 082-505 987.