CCC completes transit home for out-door cancer patients

The CCC Foundation dedicated its fruits of labour to the many cancer patients who seek a place to say during their treatment, as day patients at the National Cancer Hospital (NCI), inaugurated full operations of the 188 bedded transit home, within the hospital premises.

Speaking at the occasion, National Cancer Institute Director Dr. Kanishka Karunaratna said: “The cancer hospital in Maharagama is the largest facility in Sri Lanka handling cancer treatment. During the last year, over 25,000 new cases have been identified. We have over 600 patients who seek outdoor treatment in addition to the 900 inpatients, at any given day.

“Most of these patients travel from distant places and has no relatives or friends who can support them. In fact, for some it is the first visit to Colombo. Due to lack of options during their investigations and treatment, they choose to stay within the hospital premises and due to scarcity of space they end up on the floor.”

He also said, “This is a challenging situation for the clinicians both emotionally as well as practically. How could we treat a patient who is on the floor and the next on the bed? In developed countries the solution to problem becomes a transit home. In 2007, when I met CCC Foundation Founder Jetha Devapura, he and his team took up the challenge to set up a facility.

“But I never dreamt that this would become a reality in such a short time. I am grateful to the team of the CCC Foundation for the courage, compassion and commitment they have displayed in making this a success.”

The simple ceremony held at the premises to launch the Phase II of the operation was graced by many donors who had been a part of the journey along with the team of committed volunteers who shouldered the task.

Many donors as well as representatives of the donor corporate team were visibly moved by the stature of the project and had high words of praise for the team. They had a firsthand exposure to the facility, and were able to inspect the comforts the residents of Phase I, were already enjoying.

Goodhope Asia Holdings Director Chandima Gunawardena, a Carson Cumberbatch Company the largest corporate donor stated: “What we have achieved, together, is amazing, we are so proud to have been a part of this project. It is not often that you get the immense satisfaction from a corporate donation you make.

“We are touched by the fact that we have been able to contribute to such an impressive project which will make a difference to cancer patients in Sri Lanka. We as corporates may have the capacity to donate, but we won’t be able to execute a project like this on our own. This partnership with the CCC Foundation has been a true win-win.”

MAS Holdings Director Ajay Amalean speaking on behalf of the company stated: “I am touched and elated at what we have been a part of. This is one of the many projects we do with the National Cancer Institute. We are so proud to have joined hands with the CCC Foundation to make a difference to the cancer patients.”

This is just the beginning of the real journey, the CCC Foundation said, building the facility is just the foundation, the challenge of the organisation is to manage this project into the future, maintaining the same world class standards.

The foundation said that this requires support from donors from now on. Having calculated the expenses of maintaining one bed a day which costs Rs. 160, CCC foundation invites Sri Lanka to rally around them and chip in to this task.

The CCC Foundation is a registered charity operating in Sri Lanka and Australia, with a team of volunteers whose main purpose is making a difference to the people suffering from cancer. The contribution made by the CCC Foundation to the National Cancer Institute has been very significant.

The organisation and its committed team believe that they have the capability to continue to make an impact by harnessing the strengths of all around them. The team displays the values of the organisation courage, compassion and commitment.