BUTTERWORTH, MALAYSIA - The state government will send a dietician and counsellor to visit obese Nurhaniza Ahmad to offer her help.

State Health, Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said the dietician would help Nurhaniza, who weighs 170kg, follow a healthy diet plan.

"The dietician can guide her to lose weight in a safe and healthy manner without having to take medication or undergo surgery.

"If she is unable to go to hospital, we will try to bring the dietician and counsellor to her," he said after opening a recycling buyback centre at the Sunway Carnival Mall in Seberang Jaya yesterday.

Nurhaniza, who has been housebound for the past two years because of her weight, said last week that she was dependent on Nurbayti Md Dali, 11, her only daughter, to bathe and cook for the family.

She had to drag herself around the house because her knees would fail her when she tried to stand up.

Nurhaniza was divorced seven years ago and two years later, she married Abu Bakar Hashim, 50, who had lost a leg in a motorcycle accident when he was 16. He earns about RM700 a month as an odd-job worker.

Phee said the state Welfare Services Department had been giving Abu Bakar a RM300 monthly aid, adding that the department had also offered to give Nurbayti RM100 a month if she went back to school.

"We had earlier tried to persuade Nurhaniza to seek medical help, but she declined. But we will not give up trying to help her.

"The counsellor from the state Welfare Department will help Nurhaniza overcome feelings of stress, embarrassment and rejection due to her condition," Phee added.

The Star/Asia News Network