DPM launches HANIcare Medical Fund

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 11  (Bernama) - Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail tonight launched the HANIcare Medical Fund, which is a charity fund for former students of Tunku Kursiah College.

The fund is an initiative by Tunku Kursiah College Old Girls Association to finance the medical cost of its less fortunate alumni.

“I also hope corporate bodies and associations can cooperate and contribute to the HANIcare Medical Fund.

“I did not imagine this fund can replace the function of insurance companies, but it will provide financial assistance to members of the Tunku Kursiah College Old Girls Association in need,” she said at a dinner hosted by the association here tonight.

Also present were Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad and Tunku Kursiah College Old Girls Association president Tan Sri Rafiah Salim.

More than RM70,000 was raised for the fund tonight which will be given to the old girls of Tunku Kursiah College. Those eligible will only be provided assistance of up to RM10,000 only once.

In another development, Dr Wan Azizah, who is also Women, Family and Community Development Minister, said women played a very important role in the country’s  development and urged them not to falter in facing challenges and keeping with times.

“In fact, according to Hillary Clinton, women are a support group that should be utilised. Women will part of the world’s political, social and economic transformation. Unless these processes involve women, we will merely become‘recipients of change rather than agents of change,” she added.

Dr Wan Azizah, who is also a former student of Tunku Kursiah College said the time had come to set a target of having a woman as prime minister in the country.

“I have never dreamed on becoming a deputy prime minister. I just want to be a doctor, but with my position now, it has been proven that women can also do it,” she added.

-- BERNAMA