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PHOTOS: LIANHE WANBAO
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[h=2]Published on Jul 08, 2015[/h]
[h=2]Out with the bugs, in with neighbours[/h]
HIS home used to be a breeding ground for bugs, which would even crawl on his body.
But Choo Kim Guan's bug-infested home has now been cleaned up - and the elderly man is not quite used to it.
Last week, reports in Lianhe Wanbao and My Paper said that the unemployed 77-year-old had not bathed for more than 10 years and had bugs all over his body.
The condition of Mr Choo, who lives alone in a rental flat in Jalan Bukit Merah, was discovered by Fion Phua, founder of private volunteer group Keeping Hope Alive.
Ms Phua later led a group of 18 volunteers to clean up Mr Choo's home, including disinfecting the flat and giving the walls a fresh coat of paint.
They also gave him new furniture, including a folding bed, so he does not have to sleep on the floor, Wanbao reported yesterday.
Speaking to the Chinese evening daily, Mr Choo said: "The house hasn't been this clean in more than 10 years. There's not even one bug to be found. I can now stay at home comfortably. Of course, I'm very happy."
But according to The Straits Times, a few bugs were still seen weaving in and out of Mr Choo's clothes yesterday.
He was also not quite used to his new folding bed.
"I've been sleeping with my back against the wall for more than 10 years," he told Wanbao. "So I feel dizzy sometimes when I lie down and sleep now."
Still, Mr Choo is very thankful to Ms Phua and the volunteers for their help. They also advised him on the importance of maintaining good hygiene.
His neighbours are thankful, too. They are now visiting him, instead of keeping their distance.
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