PETRONAS lends helping hand to thalassemia patients in Sabah

KOTA KINABALU: Thalassemia patients in Sabah will benefit from the 250 units of desferal infusion pump received from Yayasan PETRONAS on Monday.

The medical device contribution is part of Yayasan PETRONAS’ Uplifting Lives programme carried out in collaboration with Yayasan Kebajikan Sabah (YKS) and Sabah Health Department to help ease the burden of thalassemia patients in seeking treatment for the ailment.

YKS will be lending the infusion pumps to thalassemia patients across the state, particularly those who cannot afford to purchase their own device, to enable them to undergo the desferal infusion at home.

Thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder which causes the body to make an abnormal form of haemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen.

It results in excessive destruction of red blood cells, which leads to anaemia and can be fatal.

PETRONAS Floating LNG also awarded sponsorships to 24 Form Four Sabahan students, marking a continuation of the company’s Powering Knowledge programme, carried out in collaboration with the Sabah Education Department and Yayasan Sabah, which commenced in 2023.

The programme aims to cultivate a sustainable pool of local talents to support Sabah’s long-term manpower growth and development.

Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun witnessed the handing over of contributions and award of sponsorships during the oil and gas company’s Hari Raya celebration, which was also attended by PETRONAS chairman Tan Sri Mohd Bakke Salleh.

Yayasan PETRONAS chief executive officer Shariah Nelly Francis handed over the medical device contribution to YKS director Dayang Rugayah Awang Besar, while PETRONAS LNG Assets senior vice president Abang Yusuf Abang Puteh presented the sponsorship to the students.