KUALA LUMPUR, 26 March 2009: The Welfare Department will extend the search for people who need welfare assistance through its “Projek Cari” programme by identifying potential candidates at community and healthcare-based non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said her welfare officers would start with dialysis centres.
“We want to find out the background of these patients and see whether they are eligible to receive welfare aid from the government. If they meet our requirements, we will ask them to apply for it,” she told reporters after launching the FunGates Superflow NKF Dialysis Centre in Kepong near here, today.
Ng said the ministry was also working with other ministries and welfare NGOs to moot plans to help on improving the livelihood of the needy.
She said through such integrated welfare strategy, recipients of welfare aid will be identified and at the same time, be offered an opportunity to work or take up skills training.
“For instance, we can find jobs for unemployed women who come for dialysis. They only come for dialysis about four hours, two to three times a week.
“So maybe the rest of the time, they can work, maybe as home managers to supplement their income,” she said.
She said since the programme was launched in October last year, the ministry had received some 128,000 applications for such aid. — Bernama
