The opening of NCSM Caritas Homes of Hope – Collaboration with National Cancer Society Malaysia

Her Royal Highness Raja Permaisuri of Perak Darul Ridzuan, Tuanku Zara Salim, graced the launching of the National Cancer Society Malaysia: NCSM-CARITAS ‘Homes of Hope’ and Program Jelajah HPV at Jalan Kompleks Sukan, Kampung Simee, Ipoh.

Also present were Perak Menteri Besar’s wife Datin Seri Aezer Zubin, Perak Health Department Director Dr Feisul Idzwan Mustapha and Catholic Bishop of Penang, Cardinal Dato’ Seri Sebastian Francis.

Cardinal Sebastian in his speech said that the Catholic Diocese of Penang which encompass the states of Penang, Perak, Kedah, Perlis and Kelantan, have joined hands and collaborated with NCSM to offer the Church’s 3-storey building for the next 30 years to serve the needs of poor cancer patients and their care givers, while patients undergo outpatient treatment at the Oncology Department of Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun Ipoh. The Homes of Hope has 30 beds, with accomodation, counselling, transport service, food and nutrition support. All facilities and services provided free of charge.

• Free accommodation for the B40 cancer patients and their caregivers who receive treatment in GH Ipoh.
• Psychological support
• Nutrition support
• Free or subsidised cancer screening mobile clinic
• Free HPV vaccination program
• Livelihood support for the needy (from the Church)

The Church has also offered the property in Ipoh, formerly known as Asrama Bintang, which is located at the back of the Main Convent Ipoh, for NCSM to set up a cancer diagnostic centre for the lower income groups who can’t afford private healthcare services in Perak.

In Penang, the Mount Miriam Cancer Hospital, a mission hospital is providing services for cancer patients, primarily for the lower income community. Hospital Besar Pulau Pinang has a collaborative arrangement with Mount Miriam Cancer Hospital to provide radiotherapy treatment for cancer patients referred by the Government Hospitals in the North of Peninsula Malaysia.

The Church is open to building more Bridges and Tents of Hope with all people of goodwill for the common good of Malaysians.

Earlier the NCSM managing director Associate Professor Dr M. Murallitharan said that a total of 70,000 women have been protected through the ‘Leaving No One Behind’ HPV (human papillomavirus) Immunisation programme launched by the cancer society in February this year.

By: Christopher Kushi