Fight Cancer Team and Expolanka Holdings donate ICU ventilators worth Rs. 11 m to Health Ministry

From left: Colombo South Hospital Coordinator Dr. Kushan Atukorala, Teaching Hospital Colombo South (Kalubowila) Consultant Intensivist Dr. Waruni Samaranayake, Ministry of Health Coordinating Secretary M. Fainaz, Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella, Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena, Expolanka Holdings Senior Manager – Sustainability and CSR Sajeeth Ilyas, Fight Cancer Trust Co-President Mehraj Sally, Ministry of Health Secretary Major General Dr. Sanjeewa Munasinghe, FCT Co-President Rukman Weeraratne, FCT General Secretary Naradha Herath and FCT Ex-Co Member A.J.M. Ashfaaq

Fight Cancer Trust (Guarantee) Ltd., better known as the Fight Cancer Team, embarked on yet another fundraising project to purchase much-needed high-end ICU ventilators which are currently instrumental in saving so many lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Expolanka Holdings PLC was the first to come forward to donate three high-end ICU ventilators originating from Switzerland worth Rs. 11,070,000. The ventilators will immediately help COVID-19 patients who are undergoing severe respiratory complications. These were officially handed over to three hospitals at an event held at Ministry of Health recently. 

Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella, Health Ministry Secretary Major General Dr. Sanjeeva Munasingha and Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardhana attended this event on behalf of the Ministry of Health.

High-end ICU ventilator machines were officially handed over to the Colombo National Hospital Deputy Director General of Health Dr. W. K. Wickramasinghe, Gampaha District General Hospital Director Dr. Saman Pathirana and Teaching Hospital Colombo South (Kalubowila) Consultant Intensivist Dr. Waruni Samaranayake by Expolanka Holdings PLC Senior Manager Sustainability and CSR Sajeeth Ilyas and Fight Cancer Trust Co-President Mehraj Sally.

Health Minister Keheliya Rabukwella commented that he praised Expolanka Holdings PLC and the Fight Cancer Team for strengthening the health services by donating such essential equipment to hospitals. 

Speaking at the occasion, Sally stated: “Our mission and vision has always been to help save the lives of cancer patients with a continuous focus on raising funds to purchase high end diagnostic and patient treatment equipment. At this juncture we could not simply turn a blind eye after witnessing an influx of people losing their lives to COVID. The Ex-Co rallied and decided to facilitate a project to raise Rs. 80 million to purchase at least 20 such high-end ICU Ventilators. We are extremely grateful to Expolanka Holdings PLC Executive Director and Group CEO Hanif Yusoof for having come forward and making this huge and timely donation. I am sure many other corporates will follow suit in light of this exemplary gesture.”

“With humanity facing so much uncertainty, we strive to live a purpose-driven life by contributing in our own little way, to make things better. Supporting each other is crucial during this difficult time. When we uplift others in times of need, we can also rise up together, to defeat the challenges that come our way. We are so proud of our medical heroes who work tirelessly to keep this pandemic under control,” said Expolanka Holdings PLC Lead – Sustainability and CSR Sabrina Yusoof.

The hospital doctors who were present at the occasion commended and explained the importance of these high-end ICU ventilator machines and thanked them for assisting in the fight against COVID-19. Further they pointed out that these machines could continue to be used in post-COVID emergency situations as well. 

Five years ago, FCT successfully raised Rs. 250 million in less than 90 days to purchase a PET scanner machine for the Maharagama Apeksha Hospital. The Fight Cancer Team also initiated the biggest fundraiser of Rs. 1 billion to purchase a Tomo-Therapy and a Linear Accelerator Machine for the Maharagama Apeksha Hospital. The project is ongoing, and the team has successfully raised approximately Rs. 150 million. The account on behalf of this project is maintained under the National Health Development Fund (Government Account) and will be re-launched soon to achieve the expected target to purchase the said equipment.