Three-day fever brings misery for food-seller’s family

 

Mohd Salim Asari, 65, and Rohaiya Hassan, 57, with their daughter Nor Atikah, 28, at their flat in Kampung Melayu, Penang island.

GEORGE TOWN: Nor Atikah Mohd Salim once had a normal life working in a Watsons outlet while waiting for her dream job as a physiotherapist. She was also busy preparing for her wedding to her Kedahan fiancee in December.

However, a three-day fever two months ago has left the 28-year-old so weak she was unable to walk or move her arms.

Doctors at the Penang Hospital later diagnosed the illness as Devic disease, a rare autoimmune disease caused by an infection which leads to a body’s immune system reacting against its own cells.

Atikah is now almost paralysed, able to move only her fingers and give responses by winking. She now lies on a donated hospital bed at her home in Kg Melayu, Air Itam, and is fed milk through her nose.

Salim and Rohaiya preparing made-to-order food items at their flat.

The rare disease came as a shock to Atikah’s parents, food sellers Mohd Salim Asari, 65, and Rohaiya Hassan, 57.

The couple is now forced to cut back on their small-time business which brings in about RM300 a month, half of what they used to get before the movement control order (MCO) was imposed.

Atikah had once worked at an electronics factory in Bayan Lepas before taking up the job as a salesgirl. Her mother’s tasty dish of nasi ayam masak merah became the talk among factory workers when Atikah shared it with her colleagues a few years ago, leading to bulk orders for her parents to cater for events or canteens.

But demand for Rohaiya’s food dropped after the MCO began in March and was made worse recently by the continued restrictions.

Air Itam assemblyman Joseph Ng has provided Atikah with essential items such as diapers and milk powder, and other aid.

They are now struggling to make ends meet.

“There are very few orders these days. But this week we have a rare order for 30 people for a function. But we have to spend more to pack individually, due to Covid-19.

“Most factories have closed and people are cooking or ordering online, so orders have slowed down. Nevertheless, we thank God that there are some orders coming in. At least I get RM1 from each packet of food.

“Luckily I bought this flat with my EPF money after I retired, or else I don’t think I can afford rent here,” said Salim, who was a hostler with the turf club.

Salim transports food from his flat to be distributed to those who had placed orders.

Atikah needs at least two tins of meal replacement milk to keep her satiated for two days.

Her friends and family members have come to help, but it has not been enough. Salim said: “Times are bad, not everyone can help us every day.”

Air Itam assemblyman Joseph Ng, who heard about their plight, has been helping them with diapers and special milk formula for Atikah.

Ng, who also gives out free produce to deserving constituents, said Atikah’s case was pitiful and that the state would expedite their recent request for welfare aid.

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