"Often, falling ill means depriving their
families of an income, and this is exactly where the vicious circle of poverty
and cancer starts."
Jayprabhu Muniandy Intern Student, Malaysia Served MAKNA from 8 March to 30 June 2006
Life
was never meant to be easy. If it was, progress would be stagnant and growth is
never attainable. However, the challenges life throws at some individuals are
far greater and the grit and willpower to overcome these challenges are special
quality by itself. I am now talking about cancer patients who live day by day
overcoming every minor and major obstacle that comes to them on a daily basis
due to their condition. Living for them is a struggle from day to day and very
few offer to help them.
When even their own families reject them due to this deadly disease, a group of
people who have no ties of blood offer a helping hand. These people are from
MAKNA. During my two months of industrial training here for my
mass-communications degree programme, what I saw was so much beyond my
expectations and brought me a clearer perspective on what these people actually
do.
Disease strikes an individual without any degree in respect with the patient's
socioeconomic status or financial background. The most pitiful cases include
extremely poor patients who live from paycheque to paycheque and try to make
ends meet everyday. Fortunately, MAKNA offers them a shoulder to lean on and
helps them to pay for their treatment needs. This really touched my heart as in
the era of even your own spouse would calculate dime to dime, these people
offer real concrete help without expecting anything back. In addition to
offering financial assistance, MAKNA also conducts regular home visits to
cancer patients do the former and also to check on their condition. To me this
action was truly service to mankind and is the pinnacle of MAKNA itself.
Education is the key and modus operandi to spread awareness of any problem. On
this front, my experience in MAKNA taught me that these people seriously mean
business. They actively promote cancer awareness through a myriad of methods.
As I was involved in the charity drive, I learnt very crucial people skills
that MAKNA employs in organizing their campaigns.
Finally, before I wrap up, I wish my very best to MAKNA. My aspiration for this
NGO is that they would grow as an organization and expand into a global cancer
organization that would help not only Malaysians but also the extended family
of other cancer patients who are in dire situation as well. As a final note, my
time with MAKNA was something that I will always cherish and the staffs there
despite carrying out such labours-intensive tasks daily are always willing to
help whenever I needed assistance. I end my testimonial with the following
quote which exemplifies the very principle of MAKNA:
Isn't
everyone part of everyone else? Budd Schulberg in O Magazine
I sincerely extend my gratitude to MAKNA and may they expand their horizons in
the years to come.
Jayprabhu Muniandy
School of Communication
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
