Rare gift saves patient's life
A WOMAN with a very rare blood type played a crucial role in saving a patient's life at Hospital Sibu in Sarawak.
Blood donor Adeline Asong Liang Ching Foong, from Sibu, has now been recognised for her selfless contribution.
It began when the hospital sent out an urgent request for the extremely rare Jk-Null blood type that is found in fewer than 0.9% of the Asian population.
To make matters more complex, the patient who was suffering from severe haemorrhaging, also had the anti-Jk3 antibody.
This meant that only blood from Jk-Null donors could be safely transfused.
Hospital Sibu launched an immediate nationwide search, with blood centres from Kuching, Penang, Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur responding swiftly.
Liang, who was travelling in Sarikei, Sarawak on personal matters, received a call informing her of the need.
'As soon as she was informed, Liang made her way directly to Hospital Sibu, ready to give her blood,' said a representative from Hospital Sibu's blood bank.
'Upon her arrival, she donated her blood without delay – not for recognition, not for reward – but out of sheer humanitarian spirit.'
The hospital representative confirmed that the transfusion was successful.
The patient's condition improved and he was later discharged in stable health.
Hospital Sibu's medical staff hailed Liang as a 'silent hero' for her act in a time of need.
'Her compassionate act reminds all Malaysians that unity and love for one another remain the nation's greatest strengths in times of crisis.
'May her kindness and sincerity be rewarded with boundless blessings,' the hospital management said in a statement.
Liang's contribution will be noted in the hospital's records for providing essential help when it was needed.
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Rare gift saves patient's life
Liang donating blood as soon as she arrived at Hospital Sibu. A WOMAN with a very rare blood type played a crucial role in saving a patient's life at Hospital Sibu in Sarawak. Blood donor Adeline Asong Liang Ching Foong, from Sibu, has now been recognised for her selfless contribution. It began when the hospital sent out an urgent request for the extremely rare Jk-Null blood type that is found in fewer than 0.9% of the Asian population. To make matters more complex, the patient who was suffering from severe haemorrhaging, also had the anti-Jk3 antibody. This meant that only blood from Jk-Null donors could be safely transfused. Hospital Sibu launched an immediate nationwide search, with blood centres from Kuching, Penang, Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur responding swiftly. Liang, who was travelling in Sarikei, Sarawak on personal matters, received a call informing her of the need. 'As soon as she was informed, Liang made her way directly to Hospital Sibu, ready to give her blood,' said a representative from Hospital Sibu's blood bank. 'Upon her arrival, she donated her blood without delay – not for recognition, not for reward – but out of sheer humanitarian spirit.' The hospital representative confirmed that the transfusion was successful. The patient's condition improved and he was later discharged in stable health. Hospital Sibu's medical staff hailed Liang as a 'silent hero' for her act in a time of need. 'Her compassionate act reminds all Malaysians that unity and love for one another remain the nation's greatest strengths in times of crisis. 'May her kindness and sincerity be rewarded with boundless blessings,' the hospital management said in a statement. Liang's contribution will be noted in the hospital's records for providing essential help when it was needed.
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While Malaysians often pride themselves on the 'cost effectiveness' of our healthcare system, it comes at the price of quality healthcare delivery due to a long-standing mismatch between supply and demand. All of this leads to poorer health outcomes for Malaysians, from delays in receiving crucial treatment to constraints in accessing more effective (but costly) treatment options. Till today, discussions among stakeholders have largely focused on public health, and the legal and economic aspects of the healthcare crisis. A crucial, fresh perspective needs to be introduced to the discussion table. As healthcare decisions and policies are enacted that benefit particular stakeholders while depriving others, these should be viewed as active exercises of 'biopower'. The term 'biopower' was popularised by an influential French historian and philosopher, Michel Foucault, in the mid-20th century. 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The long-held notion of national pride in a 'low cost and efficient' public healthcare model is no longer sustainable, as the widening cracks in the system make evident. To meet the growing healthcare needs of the population, proactive investments and systemic reforms are imperative. Apart from that, we echo the call for transparent pricing methodologies and ethical costing models used in healthcare to curb the exponential rate of medical inflation due to predatory practices. Ignoring these realities risks abandoning more lives from both fronts of healthcare sectors and recreating our very own Mangione in Malaysia. Lee Ke Yin is a content curator at the Malaysian Philosophy Society and a student at University Malaya. Dr Tee Chen Giap is a medical doctor and co-founder of the Malaysian Philosophy Society. The views expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of the Daily Express. If you have something to share, write to us at: [email protected]
