Cancer transit home second phase initiated

Yasaratne Gamage

The Colombo Commercial Company (CCC) together with MAS Holdings (Pvt) Ltd initiated the second phase of the Transit Home Complex at Maharagama Cancer Hospital recently. The Health Development Fund has donated Rs 25 million in this joint venture, at the Health Ministry last Saturday.

About 350 to 500 cancer patients attend the cancer clinic at Maharagama Cancer Hospital daily.

Most of them are from the suburbs and face many difficulties without proper accommodation.

This has made it difficult for the resident patients as well as doctors.

To overcome this problem the Health Ministry with CCC assistance constructed a transit home at a cost of Rs 250 million. The home can house 200 patients with all the facilities which is free, as the phase one of the project.

The second phase when it is completed will accommodate more patients. Accordingly the Health Ministry will take initiatives to start the construction.

Meanwhile the MAS Holdings (Pvt) Ltd has agreed to donate Rs 100 million to uplift the treatment and services available to cancer patients. The agreement was signed on the same day.

Accordingly ultra sound scanner, laproscopy system, endoscopy, flame photometre, motorized micro Tome, x-ray processor, freezer, ICU beds, therapeutic ventilators, multi para ventilators and many other medical equipment are due to be installed at the hospital.