PENGERANG: In the quiet of his home in Felda Sungai Mas here, a 73-year-old man waits by his mobile phone each day, counting the hours until he can speak to his wife again.
Wheelchair-bound due to weak knees, the elderly man, known as Madi, said the calls, sometimes stretching for hours, are what keep him going, as his 72-year-old wife remains warded at Hospital Kota Tinggi after being diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) last month.
What has pained him almost as much as the separation, however, are allegations circulating on social media claiming that his wife was the source of the infection in the Felda settlement.
“Many people, including those from outside Felda Sungai Mas, have been making irresponsible comments. They say my wife is the cause of tuberculosis here, which is not true.
“She was also infected. How can she be the cause?” he said yesterday.
Madi stressed that due to his physical condition, he and his wife have rarely left their home over the past three years, and the only time she would step out was to visit the market, about once a month.
“Early last month, my wife began experiencing a persistent cough and sought treatment at the Bandar Mas health clinic. Despite medication, her condition did not improve.
“Following advice from the clinic, she was referred to Hospital Kota Tinggi for further examination, where tests revealed she had tuberculosis. She was immediately warded in a special isolation ward.”
He added that after several days, she was transferred to Hospital Sultan Ismail in Johor Baru for more comprehensive tests and remained there for about 10 days.
“Doctors later discovered she was also suffering from liver complications. Because of her liver condition, doctors advised her to temporarily stop her TB medication in order to prioritise treatment for her liver.”
Compounding the shock, Madi said he too tested positive for tuberculosis following screening.
He said his son drives him to the Bandar Mas health clinic to seek treatment, where he must take five different pills under supervision.
“I cannot take the medicine home; I must eat it there. If I fail to follow the instructions, there could be legal consequences,” he explained, alluding to the stringent regulations surrounding compliance with tuberculosis treatment.
Madi said when he and his wife found out that they had tuberculosis, their immediate concern was their family, and he instructed their six children to undergo screening without delay.
“All my children tested negative. That was a huge relief for us.”
Madi said that doctors informed him that his wife’s condition has shown signs of improvement. He added that her appetite too has improved.
With Hari Raya Aidilfitri approaching, the absence is deeply felt – not just by him, but also by their six children and 15 grandchildren.
He urged the public not to make assumptions or spread unverified claims, but instead to remain vigilant when it comes to health.
