Loving Care Award

The Loving Care Award is an annual award given to the caregivers of HNF patients to honour and recognise the courage, perseverance, and patience they have shown to look after their sick family members over the years. This year’s nominees are three deserving ladies: Mdm Tan Poh Choo, Mdm Pushpa and Mdm Ida and we would like to appreciate them for their dedication and hard work in caring for their loved ones.

Mdm Tan Poh Choo

Caring for a loved one who is bedridden is no easy task. Mdm Tan Poh Choo’s son, Mr Gan Swee Kin requires her full attention as he is bed bound and suffers from occasional fits. In addition, Mdm Tan has to take care of her husband who is a stroke patient. Despite the hardship of having to take care of both husband and son, Mdm Tan is determined to cover all her family’s needs although it has been very trying for her. Surviving on depleting savings, Mdm Tan’s spirit remains strong and she continues to maintain a jovial and positive attitude in continuing her pursuit to make life meaningful for her family by ensuring that all their needs are attended to by her.

Mdm Belemia

Mdm Belemia’s husband, Mr T Kunji Rahman Velu was admitted to HNF in 2005 for wound dressing of jaw abscess. 79 year-old Mr Velu also suffers from Cirrhosis, Deep Vein Thrombosis, dementia and an infected ulcer on his heel.

Mdm Belemia’s daily ritual involves bathing, feeding, cooking and cleaning her husband’s wounds. Managing Mr Velu’s dementia is stressful and requires a lot of patience but Mdm Belemia continues to push on. In addition, she has to look after her two school-going grandchildren. Despite having to wear many hats, Mdm Belemia manages her responsibilities well and has learnt to cope and understand her husband’s needs.

Mdm Ida

In 2001, Mr Azleen Bin Omar was admitted to HNF for recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI), pneumonia, hypo-ischemic encephalopathy and a permanent tracheotomy. He was 34 years old when his health started to deteriorate. Struck with multiple health problems at such a young age, his wife, Mdm Ida, took over the responsibility as the head of the household. Mdm Ida never once complained about the hardships and has been attending to her husband’s needs for the past seven years. A nurse from HNF has been visiting the family’s home regularly to change Mr Azleen’s feeding tube. Through the nurse, Mdm Ida has learnt to conduct her husband’s feeding, the frequent suction and turn him every 2 to 3 hours to sponge him daily. The petite lady has no qualms about taking care of her husband and her two school going children single-handedly. With a determined mindset, she has even recently decided to take up a part-time job and employ a domestic helper. Mr Azleen’s condition has improved much under her good care all these years.