A family of five had to reside in their car for nearly two months near Hospital Segamat due to their exposure to Tuberculosis (TB) after leaving their in-laws' house. According to Mohd. Faisal Kamarozaman, 36, he, his wife, and their three children were living with his in-laws in Bukit Siput before leaving upon learning that his second child contracted TB in June.
"It all started when my six-year-old second child had a lump behind her right ear. After medical treatment, a tissue sample was taken from the lump. Through that sample, the doctor confirmed my child had TB. Then, it spread to my youngest child, followed by my eldest, and eventually, I got infected too," he shared.
Upon learning of their family's TB diagnosis, their in-laws asked them to move out of their house, fearing that other family members would also get infected. Due to financial constraints, Mohd. Faisal and his family decided to temporarily stay and sleep in their car.
His wife, Susilawati Asmarajaya, 29, who worked as a laundry worker at Hospital Segamat, took unpaid leave to care for their sick children. "My husband used to help his brother-in-law's burger business in Johor Bahru, but due to his ongoing TB condition, he can no longer work, as advised by the doctor," she added.
Mohd. Faisal and his three daughters, aged three to nine, continue to receive treatment and visit the health clinic or Hospital Segamat daily for medication. Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by a type of bacteria known as Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. It spreads through the air and can affect anyone exposed to the bacteria.
Earlier, the heart-wrenching story of this family went viral on social media when a user, Nordarlina Yusof, shared their plight of living in a car near a gas station close to Hospital Segamat. After the story gained attention, many residents of Segamat visited the gas station to inquire about their well-being.
The family also received food aid and some financial assistance from the public. Mohd. Faisal expressed gratitude for the assistance they received from various individuals and organizations, including the Department of Social Welfare (JKM) and Pemuda UMNO Bahagian Sekijang. He also thanked his daughter's school teacher for their support.
He mentioned that anyone who wishes to provide help to their family can contact him or his wife through the provided phone numbers or make contributions to their CIMB account:
Mohd. Faisal at 016-7286831 or Susilawati 01173429634 or to CIMB account 7615951825 (Mohd. Faisal Kamarozaman)
In his emotional tone, Mohd. Faisal conveyed his deep appreciation for the concern and support they received from the community. He acknowledged that only Allah could repay the kindness shown by everyone.
