CENTRAL BANGKA - To reduce medical expenses for Fitri Salsabila (6), a resident of Dusun 02, Terak Village, Simpang Katis District, Central Bangka Regency, PT Timah Tbk handed over assistance to the child of Somawati (25).
Fitri experienced Nystagmus which caused her eyes to be unable to see clearly. However, due to financial constraints, Fitri's parents could only bring their children for alternative treatment.
"When she was 3 years old, we found out that our child's eye condition was not normal. At that time, she wanted to take a toy, but she couldn't reach the toy. But it was as if her hand had reached for the toy and she was also feeling the toy," Somowati said when she received assistance from PT Timah Tbk.
Somawati said that her child's condition continued to decline and her vision was getting darker. Finally, she brought her baby to be treated at a hospital in Pangkalpinang.
Based on the examination, her daughter had to be referred to a hospital in Palembang. In February 2022, they were finally able to leave for Palembang after receiving help from their neighbors and extended family.
"My child was diagnosed by a doctor as having nystagmus, a disease that causes the sufferer's eyeballs to be unable to see clearly and to have uncontrollable eyeball movements, so she had to be referred by the doctor to be treated at a hospital in Palembang," she said.
In Palembang, her daughter underwent surgery and she is grateful that the operation went smoothly. It's just that the child has to be routinely controlled with a lot of money.
"Due to economic limitations, we applied for assistance to PT Timah to help with medical expenses and accommodation costs while undergoing treatment in Palembang," she said.
At first, she did not expect that she would be assisted by PT Timah Tbk. She was grateful that this assistance could help with their medical and accommodation expenses.
"I did not expect that our request would be granted by PT Timah. We will use this assistance to pay for our child's medical expenses," she said.
According to her, they have left for Palembang dozens of times and the plan is that on November 15 they will return for control. In addition to control, her daughter also underwent therapy to speed up her eyesight.
"If there is no control and therapy, then the surgery that has been carried out will be in vain. If the condition still does not improve, then another operation will be carried out. But hopefully, the operation will not happen again, because at this time our child already using minus 16 glasses," she hoped.
