ABOUT 40% of the 220 people who registered for the free prosthesis programme had their limbs amputated due to diabetes complications, said Chee Hoon Khor Moral Uplifting Society deputy president Datuk Ooi Soo Hing.
He said the number was worrying as many people nowadays did not know the dire consequences of diabetes.
“It is important to make lifestyle changes and watch one’s diet. It is important for one to avoid sugary food and eat healthy food,” said Ooi during a press conference at the society’s premises on Saturday.
He said this after receiving 500kg of ring tabs from Pulau Tikus assemblyman Koay Teng Hai’s service team, New Century Lions Club of Penang Island and Region 1 Leo Club.
Besides the tabs, Koay also donated RM5,000 from his constituency’s allocation to the programme.
The tabs would be given to the Prosthesis Foundation under the patronage of the Princess Mother of Thailand.
The foundation is sending 110 members including 10 doctors, technicians and administrative staff members to the society’s premises on Macalister Road, Penang, to see if the registered amputees could be fitted with artificial legs for free.
The tabs, which will be melted, are important parts for artificial legs.
Ooi said a kilogram of ring tabs from aluminium cans could be used to make two artificial legs, adding that each artificial leg costs between RM3,000 and RM4,000.
The six-day programme, to start this Sunday, is the second held since 2007 when the team made 190 artificial legs for 177 people.
Ooi added that Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng was expected to open the programme at 9am on that day.
He said the number was worrying as many people nowadays did not know the dire consequences of diabetes.
“It is important to make lifestyle changes and watch one’s diet. It is important for one to avoid sugary food and eat healthy food,” said Ooi during a press conference at the society’s premises on Saturday.
He said this after receiving 500kg of ring tabs from Pulau Tikus assemblyman Koay Teng Hai’s service team, New Century Lions Club of Penang Island and Region 1 Leo Club.
Besides the tabs, Koay also donated RM5,000 from his constituency’s allocation to the programme.
The tabs would be given to the Prosthesis Foundation under the patronage of the Princess Mother of Thailand.
The foundation is sending 110 members including 10 doctors, technicians and administrative staff members to the society’s premises on Macalister Road, Penang, to see if the registered amputees could be fitted with artificial legs for free.
The tabs, which will be melted, are important parts for artificial legs.
Ooi said a kilogram of ring tabs from aluminium cans could be used to make two artificial legs, adding that each artificial leg costs between RM3,000 and RM4,000.
The six-day programme, to start this Sunday, is the second held since 2007 when the team made 190 artificial legs for 177 people.
Ooi added that Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng was expected to open the programme at 9am on that day.
