BUKIT MERTAJAM – An 18-year-old stateless teenager is seeking the public’s help to restore her hearing to normal with an electronic cochlear implant that costs RM100,400 to install.
Kampar-born Chan Kah Kei, who suffers from pain in both her ears and has hearing problems, was abandoned by her biological parents when young.
She was later adopted by kuih seller Wong Soon Chong, now 53.
Wong has since then made numerous trips to the National Registration Department (NRD) to apply for an IC for Chan, especially so that she can be treated for her condition at a government hospital.
However, her efforts have been futile so far, Wong said at a press conference here organised by One Hope Charity and Welfare, an NGO, here today.
Wong, a single mother, said that during a visit to the NRD office to apply for Chan’s IC when she reached 12, the department kept Chan’s birth certificate and did not issue her an IC.
She has since continued to be stateless, facing problems in seeking medical treatment from government hospitals.
“I want my daughter to overcome her health problems and lead a normal life,” she said.
She has so far saved RM15,000 for the needed treatment and sought the help of One Hope Charity and Welfare to help Chan get the electronic cochlear implant.
She added that Chan is a slow-learning student who was unable to speak at the age of three.
Wong was then advised to send her to a kindergarten so that she could start speaking by mixing with other children.
At the kindergarten, the teacher suspected something amiss when she noticed Chan was not reacting to voices.
The teacher advised Wong to seek medical advice and treatment. from a hospital. Unfortunately, the doctor on duty at the hospital they visited did not detect any issues with Chan’s ears, Wong recalled.
She added that Chan was then ridiculed by other students due to her learning disability, poor speech, and inaccurate pronunciations.
“The doctors warned that her hearing started to deteriorate in the last two years, and she has to have a cochlear implant immediately,” she said.
“I decided to seek help from One Hope Charity and Welfare to help my daughter.”
One Hope chairman Datuk Chua Sui Hau noted medical reports that Chan risks losing her hearing completely.
“She must sit for the EU3 Chinese school examinations, and I think it will be proper for her to get the electronic cochlear implant. We decided to help Wong and raise RM89,000 towards the surgery,” he said.
Chua urged the public to donate generously to Chan’s medical treatment.
Those interested in more details can call 016-4192192, 019-2322192, or 04-5399212. They can visit also One Hope’s website at www.onehopecharity.org. – The Vibes, April 3, 2022
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