HAMIDI’S Comrades in Charity (HCIC) is appealing for additional funding to help secure R. Hermavarshzine’s long-term medical treatment.
The Klang-based grassroots non-profit organisation has raised RM20,000 in aid of the young woman who has Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD).
HCIC founder and secretary Hamidi Mookkaiyah said a fundraising initiative was launched after they learned of the 24-year-old’s struggle with the rare autoimmune disease, which often causes vision loss, muscle weakness and mobility impairment.
Hamidi said the amount raised represented only the beginning of what was expected to be a long and costly journey.
“Hermavarshzine’s condition requires ongoing medical care, rehabilitation and regular monitoring, which places a significant financial burden on the family.
“We urge University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), where Hermavarshzine is currently warded, to reduce the charges as the family is finding it difficult to pay her medical bills,” he said after the NGO’s second biennial delegates meeting, held at a restaurant in Klang, Selangor.
Hermavarshzine’s father D. Rajendran, who received the mock cheque of RM20,000, expressed gratitude to HCIC for the contribution.
“As much as I hope for a miracle and for my daughter to get well, she has lost the ability to use her legs as the muscles have weakened.
“She is also dealing with vision loss.”
Rajendran works as a plumber and his wife is a homemaker. Hermavarshzine is the second of their three children.
“Her medical bill comes to RM5,000 a month,” he said.
Earlier, Sungai Kandis coordinator Ustaz Zawawi Mughni, who opened the meeting, lauded donors for helping to ease the family’s burden.
“This demonstrates the compassion that exists within our community.
“Every contribution, regardless of the amount, will also provide the stability needed for her to continue receiving medical treatment,” he said.
Hamidi hopes the campaign would also raise public awareness of rare diseases.
HCIC was founded during the Covid-19 movement control order when Hamidi started collecting funds from friends to help those struggling financially.
Contributions can be banked into Persatuan Kebajikan Rakan-Rakan Hamidi’s CIMB account 8011004760.
