Six sub committees to provide methodised service - Cancer Society Chairman

Sarath Malalasekera

The 61st Annual General Meeting of the Sri Lanka Cancer Society was held at the Sri Lanka Cancer Society, Bullers Lane, Colombo 7 on Thursday.

Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva PC, was the Chief Guest. Sri lanka Cancer Society Chairman E.P. Mannakkara said:

Now I like to move on to give a brief description of our operations. We have assigned all our functions to six sub committees under the control and guidance of the Executive Committee, in order to carry out our services in a methodical manner. Each sub committee meets once a month and their activities during the month are reported to the Executive Committee for directions and advices.

The Finance Committee under the able guidance of its Chairperson Anoja Karunaratne had regular meetings and kept the Executive Committee informed of the state of the Society's finances. It is with great sense of responsibility the Society's funds have been invested in order to bring in the maximum returns to meet our ever increasing operating expenses.

The income of the society which amounted to Rs.27.6 million, represented a decrease of 8.7 % compared with the previous year, whilst our expenditure increased by 12 % thereby incurring a net deficit of Rs. 1.9 million during the year under review. Despite these difficulties, I am glad to say that the society was able to carry out all activities as planned.

This was made possible due to the efforts of our volunteers spearheaded by Perin Captain who worked tirelessly to make our fund raising projects successful.

The Homes Committee under the able leadership of its Chairperson M.J.P. De Silva, entrusted with the task of running the Cancer Home at Maharagama had a very successful year of dedicated service.

We were able to maintain an occupancy level of over 90% in our cancer home, during the year under review. These dedicated volunteers' maintained admirable standards in our 85 bed cancer home giving the maximum care and comfort to the inmates.

The Hospice 'Shantha Sevena' had another satisfactory year of providing care and comfort, physically and mentally under the able guidance of its Chairperson Ajantha Wickramasooriya. I am glad to say, that the training programs arranged for Lay Counsellors, trainee nurses and counsellors with the assistance of Ruwan Rekha Senior Citizens Association continued successfully.

We continued creating public awareness of these risks with greater vigor through our Public Education programs under the guidance of Walter Ladduwahetty, the Chairman of our Public Education Committee. Our Public Education officer has conducted lectures and discussions in schools, community centers and in prisons.

During the year under review 91 such programs were conducted where the participation has been over 2300. We were also able to develop a documentary drama under the theme 'Pama Novi' showing the ill effects of smoking and chewing betel with tobacco. This drama strengthened our message conveyed through our public education programs conducted throughout the country.

The poly clinic is conducted on the second sunday of every month at our headoffice to screen patients for all types of cancer, free of charge. We served 304 patients during the year under review. We are very grateful to the consultants, Doctors and all other volunteers who helped us to make this polyclinic very useful to the public.

Our branch societies have performed extremely well during the year under review.

The Kandy branch under the guidance of its President Mirani Liyanage continued its awareness programs by conducting seminars and workshops whilst ensuring adequate care and comfort to the inmates of its 50 bed cancer home. I warmly welcome the new office bearers under Dr. (Mrs.) Wimala Samarasinghe and look forward for another successful year of service towards prevention and control of cancer in the Central Province.

Our Galle branch under the Chairmanship of Ven. Thalangalle Vijitha Thera has continued to provide meals and drugs to the patients in the Southern Province whilst continuing its awareness campaigns. The branch also played a major role in finding equipment for the new cancer unit which was opened in the Karapitiya General Hospital

Our Batticaloa branch under the Chairmanship of T.P. Thiruarul continued its services to the cancer patients by providing funds for travelling to Cancer Institute at Maharagama for treatment. It has been a difficult year again, for the Batticaloa branch due to unsettled conditions prevailed in the Province in the early part of the year. The branch also assisted the Batticalo Teaching Hospital with necessary equipment for the Oncology Unit.

I brought to your notice at the last AGM that the Anuradhapura branch was operating below expectations. I am glad to bring to your notice today that the branch under its new office bearers, has been functioning more effectively during the year under review.

The branch has been carrying out public education programs and continued to provide refreshments for the patients who have been visiting the Anuradhapura hospital.

I am extremely grateful to our honourary legal advisor V. Murugesu who has extended invaluable guidance in all legal matters of our society. I also thank our honourary auditors K.P.M.G. Ford Rhodes Thornton & Co. for their continued service to our society.

I also take this opportunity to thank Dr. Kanishka Karunaratne, Clinical Director of the Cancer Institute for his excellent support and advice whenever we needed his assistance.

I thank our staff both at head office and Maharagama for their loyal and dedicated service to our society, also my gratitude to donors, voluntary workers and well wishers. I sincerely hope your support and co-operation will continue unabated to achieve our ultimate goal to prevent cancer, help cure cancer and grant relief of pain for those suffering from cancer.