14 July 2005
Makna to spread its wings aboard

The National Cancer Council (MAKNA) plans to extend its services to needy patients from Asian countries next year, especially since it has established its programmes locally.

"We have developed a good enough system and we do not want to limit it locally," Makna President Datuk Farid Ariffin said.

"It is part of our efforst to reach out to the poor beyond our borders," he said.

The founder of Makna did not reveal details, and only said the objectives of the aid would remain the same - to pool and utilise all efforts, expertise and finances from all sectors of society to fight cancer and reduce related suffering of poor cancer patients.

He said such services were needed everywhere, especially in Asian countries where the number of cases have gone up and more people die of cancer than they do of AIDS.

Farid said that initially qualifies patients would be brought in for treatment but later Makna planned to set up centres abroad to enable it to assist patients in their homeland.

Farid said since its inception 10 years ago, Makna has helped 72,000 cancer patients nationwide.

He said the council was co-operating with 27 hospitals nationwide, including the Institut Kanser Makna-HUKM in Cheras.

"So far we have managed to send 60 patients for transplant operations.

"The treatment cost RM261,000 each but we are giving it for free to the patients," he said.

He added that the organisation was there to help the poor get the best medicine available.

Farid said that Makna also planned to open its first branch outside the Klang Valley next year. The first branch would be in Penang.

He said Makna's fund-raising projects this year to support its programmes included the Duck Race 2005 and Sens for Lives.

Makna hopes to raise at least RM500,000 from adoption certificates to be issued during the duck race in September.

The Sens for Life peoject aims to get the public to donate their loose change, especially one and five sen coins to Makna, Although 10, 20 and 50 sen coins will also be accepted.

"What we want are the small coins," Farid said.

Sens for Lives is a five-year project and Makna is working with various organisations to set up collection centres nationwide.

Source by: The Star , July 14, 2005