Northern Province to get fully-fledged cancer treatment facility

Project value Rs 700 mn:

The Industry and Commerce Ministry has planned to build a fully-fledged cancer treatment facility in the Northern Province at a cost of Rs. 700 million funded by the Dehiwala Metro Lions Club.

A MoU was signed by the Northern Provincial Council and Dehiwala Metro Lions Club. This will benefit over 700,000 northerners, said Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen.

The decision to build the facility has been taken following an appeal made by Dehiwala Metro Lions Club Chair and Co-Chair Marlene Jayawardena and Naomi Kularatne.

Five acres of land has been identified for this institute in Pompamaduwa, Vavuniya.

According to the National Cancer Institute, 120 diagnosed cancer patients from the Northern Province sought in-house treatment at the Maharagama Cancer Hospital in 2010. This number excludes the Northern Province cancer patients who are registered at Maharagama Hospital with a Colombo address. Statistics also revealed that cancer patients in the country are on the rise annually.

“This project is assisted by all clubs in District 306 A1 and Vavuniya Lions Club,” said Jayawardena, adding that the first phase of the project incurs Rs. 300 million.

The Dehiwala Metro Lions Club is funding this amount through overseas funding assistance, Jayawardena said. “We are now searching for donors to provide the balance Rs 400 million for the second phase,” she said.

According to Vavuniya Government Agent P.S.M. Charles, the facility will be attached to the Vavuniya Hospital.

It will have a male, female and children’s wards, a research complex, 16 quarters for nurses, eight quarters for doctors and a residential facility for in-house caretakers.