KLANG: R. Jancey Rani’s world came tumbling down after her left leg was amputated in May last year due to diabetic complications.
To make matters worse, the prosthetic leg the hospital obtained for her through the Social Security Organisation (Socso) did not fit her well.
“I saw many amputees like me walking well with prosthetic legs at Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah, where I went for rehabilitation.
“And so I was depressed – not only was I broke, the prosthetic leg I received was also not working for me,” said Jancey Rani, 43, who lives with her mother and brother in Taman Sentosa near here.
The former customer service employee said she went into deep depression, and suicide crossed her mind.
Last month, she conveyed her problems and worries to a friend, who then reached out to Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar for help.
“The following day, a group of officers from Socso came over to my house and enquired about my needs,” she said.
On Tuesday, Sivakumar, along with officers from Socso and his ministry, visited Jancey Rani to hand over a prosthetic leg modified to fit her, a wheelchair, as well as an offer to undergo rehabilitation at Tun Abdul Razak Rehabilitation Centre and to participate in the organisation’s Return to Work Programme.
Jancey Rani accepted and will be leaving for six months’ training at the rehabilitation centre in Melaka on Sunday.
“I am looking forward to it as I was told that I can take up driving classes and Socso will arrange for me to get a licence.”
She added that she might go back to her old employer or start a new job through Socso’s Return to Work Programme.
“I finally have hope to start on a new life and move on,” said Jancey Rani, adding that she was previously unaware of the many benefits and aid offered by Socso.
A diabetic since she was 19, Jancey Rani said she had applied unsuccessfully for disability pension from Socso in 2019.
“At that time, the soles of my feet had to be ‘scraped’ due to infection and I had to apply dressing daily.
“I also stopped work for eight months and was broke. That was why I had applied for the disability pension,” she added.
She said she was offered a place to undergo the Return to Work Programme but did not take it up then.
“I did not know how it could have helped me due to my depressed state of mind at that time.”
Sivakumar said it was Socso’s priority to protect the nation’s workforce and added that, “it is important to contribute to Socso and we encourage employers and employees to ensure that they submit their contributions”.
