By Herald Malaysia
IPOH – The Raja Permaisuri of Perak, Tuanku Zara Salim, officiated the launch of NCSMCaritas’s ‘Homes of Hope,’ a temporary accommodation facility designed to support underprivileged cancer patients.
The event, held on Aug 8 at the National Cancer Society Malaysia’s (NCSM) Perak branch, was attended by Cardinal Sebastian Francis, Bishop of Penang; Dr Feisul Idzwan Mustapha, Director of the Perak State Health Department (JKN); and Datin Seri Aezer Zubin, wife of the Perak Menteri Besar.
Tuanku Zara also inaugurated the Jelajah Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Programme across Perak. This programme is part of NCSM’s nationwide “Leaving No One Behind” campaign, which aims to eliminate cervical cancer in Malaysia by offering free HPV immunisations.
Cardinal Sebastian in his speech, highlighted that the Catholic Diocese of Penang, which covers the states of Penang, Perak, Kedah, Perlis, and Kelantan, has partnered with NCSM to support the ‘Homes of Hope’ initiative. The Church has committed to providing a three-storey building for the next 30 years to cater to the needs of low-income cancer patients and their caregivers while they receive outpatient treatment at the Oncology Department of Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun Ipoh. The facility offers 30 beds along with accommodation, counselling, transport services, food, and nutrition support, all free of charge.
Additionally, the Church has donated a property in Ipoh, formerly known as Asrama Bintang, located behind the Main Convent Ipoh, for NCSM to establish a cancer diagnostic centre. This centre will assist lower-income groups who cannot afford private healthcare services in Perak.
In Penang, the Mount Miriam Cancer Hospital, a mission hospital, provides services primarily for the lower-income community. It collaborates with Hospital Besar Pulau Pinang to offer radiotherapy treatment for patients referred by government hospitals in Northern Peninsula Malaysia.
Cardinal Sebastian concluded by expressing the Church’s openness to building more bridges and tents of hope with all people of goodwill for the com- mon good of Malaysians.
Associate Professor Dr Murallitharan Munisamy, Managing Director of NCSM, noted in his welcoming speech that since its inception in 2023, the NCSM Perak Homes of Hope has operated with 30 beds as a ‘feeder’ transit home for cancer patients at Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital. This facility offers free accommodation to patients and their families from across the state while they receive treatment.
He also praised the success of the “Leaving No One Behind” programme, stating, “To date, NCSM has successfully helped over 70,000 Malaysians receive HPV protection, thanks to the efforts of our staff, volunteers, state government, and partner organisations.”
Dr Feisul emphasised the importance of the Homes of Hope, stating, “The treatment and care of cancer patients is not easy and can be very expensive. The availability of temporary accommodation helps ease the burden on cancer patients receiving treatment at Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital by providing free accommodation and transportation.” – Herald Malaysia
