29 January 2008
Support for cancer patients

A NON-PROFIT organisation that was registered in November 1994, the National Cancer Council (Makna) has grown since its modest beginnings to provide various programmes in the hope of giving meaning to life to those in need, especially cancer patients.

Its mission is to mobilise re-sources to provide curative, preventive, research and support services to cancer patients, their families, high-risk groups and the general public.

Bringing cheer: Ijlal (right) smiling for a picture with young cancer patient Danial. Makna was set up because of the personal experience of the family of its founding president and former Deputy Health Minister Datuk Mohd Farid Ariffin, whose son Farul Rafiq was diagnosed with leukaemia at age 16 in 1991.

“We decided to have Farul’s transplant done in London. Because of my dad’s position in the ministry, we had access to the best professors and treatments, but there was still the question of whether he could be cured,” said Makna general manager and Mohd Farid’s daughter Farahida Mohd Farid, 40.

“With Farul’s health see-sawing up and down as he underwent treatment, we made a promise to God to set up an organisation that aimed to bring meaning to life.”

Makna’s core activities focus on treatment, research, cancer awareness, prevention, support services and fundraising.

“The treatment programme at HUKM (Hospital Universiti Ke-bangsaan Malaysia) is a collaboration with the hospital that began in April 1999,” said Farahida.

“We manage the oncology and bone marrow transplant wards and radiotherapy services by taking care of the medical equipment, drugs, nurses and utility bills, while HUKM provides the specialists.

“We later began collaborating with government hospitals nationwide to provide financial and medical aid for cancer patients. We complement the Government’s role in supporting the patients’ treatment, like purchasing non-formulary drugs and prostheses.

“In terms of research, we invest in projects that would most likely provide results, and provide funding for scientists to do research to find a cure for cancer,” she said.

Makna’s support services include programmes that provide emotional support and counselling, micro credit, scholarship and bursary, and bone marrow transplantation services.

“The bursary scheme provides direct financial assistance to cancer patients and their families for food, daily transport expenses and equipment purchase, while scholarships are given to young cancer survivors or cancer patients’ families to encourage the children to continue their education.

“The micro credit programme provides small interest-free loans for them to start an enterprise for their livelihood and help them get back on their feet,” said Farahida.

Makna’s ongoing fundraising campaigns are: Sens Saves Lives (SSL), Direct Debit Donor Pro-gramme (DDDP), Payroll Giving, and 1 Sen & 5 Sen Campaign.

Farahida said the DDDP, a fundraising solution that provides Makna with a regular flow of funds via monthly deductions from credit card users and auto debits from bank accounts, is the most successful campaign thus far.

Creating awareness: Makna staff members and volunteers at one of the organisation’s road shows that are held to create awareness and educate the public about cancer.

According to her, Makna has a yearly income and expenses of about RM18 million and RM15 million respectively. The balance is used as investment for the following year’s expenses.

Farahida attributed Makna’s success to its clear mission goals, transparency, good and competent staff, good governance, detailed annual reports, as well as the best practices, management and tech tools.

She said Makna’s future plans included setting up a research and treatment centre, and starting a Makna chapter in poor countries like Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

Volunteer turned full-time staff member Ijlal Nadzir, 30, chose to work with Makna because he believes in the values it carries and the fact that it has programmes that are continuous and sustainable.

“I’ve been involved in community work since my university days when I helped out at motivational camps for students and did weekend work at old folks' homes,” he said.

“After a couple of my family members died of cancer, I wanted to find out more about cancer and find ways to help patients and their families. That’s how I came across Makna.”

Ijlal’s three-year stint as a volunteer included helping out at fundraising events and visiting patients at home and in hospital.

As a full-time staff member, his job scope has expanded to handling the DDDP and SSL fundraising projects, collaborating with government higher education institutions in Selangor and KL on cancer awareness and fundraising programmes, and developing a volunteer base at university level.

“My challenges are to change the mindset of students to not look within their own confined space, and come up with activities that would be fun and sustainable for them.

“We want to encourage them to realise that every little thing they do can help, like cycling a little further to visit cancer patients and their families.”

Ijlal plans to expand Makna’s activities to incorporate a motivational camp for less fortunate children to encourage them to continue studying and teach them how to deal with cancer.


MAKNA
BG 03A & 05, Ground Floor,
Megan Ambassy, 225, Jalan Ampang,
50450 Kuala Lumpur.

Tel: 03-2162 9178
Fax: 03-2162 9203
Email: makna@makna.org.my (general), youthcorps@makna.org.my(volunteer info)
Website: www.makna.org.my
Operating hours: Mon-Fri; 10am-6pm

Source by:   StarMetro, January 29, 2008