SMA patient Siti Hawa's academic excellence to PhD earns historic MBOR recognitio

KUANTAN: Wheelchair-bound spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) patient Dr Siti Hawa Apandi's unwavering commitment to education has earned the 37-year-old a place in history.

She has been recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records (MBOR) as the first SMA patient in the country to complete continuous higher education at a single university, progressing from diploma, degree, masters degree to a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

Her remarkable academic journey of more than a decade at Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) not only marks a personal milestone but also serves as a powerful testament to the potential of persons with disabilities when given equal access to education.

Siti Hawa, who was hospitalised with a bacterial infection and spent about 50 days in the intensive care unit at Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital here last year, now breathes through a tracheostomy tube and spends most of her time resting on a bed in the living room of her home in Taman Mahkota Aman here.

Siti Hawa, who earned her PhD last year, received the award from MBOR representative Siti Nurhanim Mohd Noh in a ceremony at her home witnessed by her parents, Apandi A. Hadi and Zaidah Tamjis, both 63, as well as UMPSA vice-chancellor Professor Ts Dr Yatimah Alias.

Zaidah admitted that she was surprised Siti Hawa had successfully completed her studies up to the PhD level and earned national recognition.