PM's Wife Urges Corporate Bodies To Turn Aid To IJN Foundation As CSR

PETALING JAYA (Selangor, Malaysia), Nov 25 (Bernama) -- Corporate bodies should turn the aid given to the National Heart Institute (IJN) Foundation as their corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme, said the prime minister's wife, Rosmah Mansor. Rosmah, who is also the patron of the IJN Foundation, said it was important for the foundation to assist in funding treatment for poorer heart patients as well as the research programmes and clinical tests carried out by the IJN. "The IJN Foundation provides an opportunity to the corporate sector, the community and individuals to be charitable by contributing to the fund. "No matter how small the contribution made, what is important is that everyone have joined in to assist in paying for the cost of treatment needed by the heart patients," she said. Rosmah said this at the IJN Foundation Charity Dinner, here with the theme "Night Of A Thousand Hearts" which was also attended by the Crown prince of northern state of Perak, Raja Dr Nazrin Shah, his wife, Tuanku Zara Salim as well as former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his wife, Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali. At the dinner, the IJN Foundation received a contribution of RM746,460 from, among others, Ambank, Gamuda Berhad and Landasan Capital. (US$1=RM3.17) Rosmah said the IJN Foundation had given out aid totalling RM1.2 million to 75 heart patients who were less affordable last year. "In the past, heart diseases frequently occurred among the older group but now, the younger generation too and even children are exposed to the risk of heart ailments," she said. She said the cost of treatment for the disease, especially for children and infants, were exhorbitant as it required detailed treatment and monitoring as well as follow-up treatment. "Thus, assistance should be given to patients who cannot afford to bear such cost," Rosmah said. -- BERNAMA Malaysia