Makna opens halfway house for underprivileged cancer patients
Published on: Friday, November 02, 2018
Kota Kinabalu: National Cancer Council (Makna) launched its first halfway house for underprivileged cancer patients in Sabah.It is the fourth halfway house built in the country, following three others in Johor Bahru, Penang and Kelantan.According to Makna Assistant Head of Division (Services) Nisha Sanita, the temporary accommodation, located at Taman Ujana Kingfisher, here, is available for underprivileged cancer patients receiving treatments at the State Women and Children Hospital, especially those undergoing frequent radiotherapy or chemotherapy treatment as they can be physically unfit to travel back and forth between their homes and hospitals.
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"With the existence of this free-of-charge, short-term accommodations, cancer patients and caretakers from financially challenged background can relieve their travel expenses hence, continue their treatment without interruption."Accommodating up to 12 patients per day, the halfway house is built and designed to ensure patients experience a cheerful and calming ambience, making them feel relaxed and at home during their stay."For the past 10 years, Makna halfway houses have been a great facility to our patients, especially for those living in the remote corners facing difficulties in commuting and to have our fourth halfway house opened in East Malaysia is a really great expansion in Makna," she said.It was revealed that the next halfway house will be opened in Kuching by end of this year with four more in the pipeline in the peninsula.
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Meanwhile, Sabah Women and Children Hospital Director Dr Tan Bee Hwai commended Makna for opening their first halfway house in the State which will pose as a good solution for the patients to be relieved of their financial burden.He explained that cancer patients from Tawau, Sandakan, Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu, Ranau, Keningau, and Kudat are among the 8,000 recorded cancer patients in the State are required to travel to Kota Kinabalu to receive treatment.
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"If they are required to stay in KK for 30 to 35 days, then staying at the hotel will not be a wise decision financially."Additionally, treatment costs for cancer diseases are increasing every year. For breast cancer, treatment may cost as low as RM30,000 to as high as RM80,000 while private treatment centres may cost up to six figures," he said, adding that some insurance companies may not even consider covering the treatments.Dr Tan revealed that every one to 400 has cancer with the most common being breast cancer followed by cervix cancer for women whereas the most common cancer suffered by the male gender are large intestine cancer or cologne cancer."However, patients suffering from cervical is decreasing as vaccines are now available for children in Malaysia at 13 or 18 years old which will be administered by the government," he added.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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