PET Scanner for Maharagama:

A great expectation fulfilled

by Isuri Yasasmin Kaviratne

This week, the nation celebrated collecting Rs. 200 million for the much needed PET (positron emission tomography) scanner for the Apeksha (Hope, Expectation) Cancer Hospital in Maharagama. All Sri Lankans supported this cause, by donating generously, by giving it more publicity, by running various campaigns and the money poured in, even after the fund reached the required amount in record time.

M. S. M. Mohamed, the founder of Khadija Foundation who initiated the project said that as a Sri Lankan he is proud of the achievement which reflects the Lankan people's commitment to unity and reconciliation.

Funds

Mohamed was motivated to collect funds to buy the PET Scanner for the Cancer hospital when his own son was diagnosed with cancer nearly two and half years ago. After undergoing treatment for a year abroad and another year at a private hospital in Sri Lanka, Mohamed admitted his son to the Maharagama Cancer hospital. Then he realized that the hospital lacked major diagnosis equipment. Currently, the hospital uses a CT scanner which provides only 17% accuracy when unaided by other scans. Hence, without the PET scanner, the doctors are compelled to resort to guess work. The cost of a PET scan from a private hospital is around Rs. 150,000/- and a patient diagnosed with cancer needs multiple, periodical PET scans for correct diagnosis.

Ceremony

"I wanted my son to be here today, but I couldn't bring him," Mohamed said emotionally at the ceremony held organized by the Khadija Foundation and the Maharagama Apeksha Hospital to celebrate reaching the required amount.

Nine months ago, Mohamed officially received permission from the government to proceed with his plan to collect funds for a PET Scanner. After the preliminary preparations, the public campaign began on March 4, collecting around 6 to 7 million during the first month, but gradually making progress - four million rupees in April, and during the last two weeks, Rs. 90 million.

Pride

Thanking the media, electronic and print, for their support, Mohamed also thanked over 70,000 Sri Lankans who made donations during the last three months. According to the bank statements he so fondly referred to, all 635 Bank of Ceylon branches across Sri Lanka were used to deposit money. "Some have deposited Rs. 50 and 100.

Thousands of people did that according to the bank statements I received daily. I always think about them, how they must have left home, gone to the bank in a bus, deposited the money and returned home. It gives me immense pride when I think about them," Mohamed said that statement daily indicated that there were donations of Rs. 50, 100, 500, 1000, 10,000 and 100,000.

Joining the celebration were representatives of Sunil Traders, headed by Sunil Muthumala, who made a donation of Rs. 35 million.

Dr. M. Y. K. Wilfred, the Director of the Apeksha Hospital said that the next step is to follow government procedure and call for tenders to buy the scanner. He said that the hospital management is very much aware of the fact that the money is public donations for a single purpose and the money will be used solely for this purpose. Hence, maintaining transparency when following procedures is of utmost importance.

Foundation

"It will take another five months at least, to call for tenders and choose a suitable company, local or foreign, and adjust the scanner to suit the requirements of the Cancer hospital," he explained, adding that the guarantee period for the machine, and the maintenance and training for the staff in using the machine are other aspects that need to be looked into.

The total amount collected as of middle of this week stood at Rs. 233 million, and Mohamed and the Khadija Foundation are determined to use the excess to fulfill other needs of the Cancer hospital which is in need of an MRI Scanner, a genetic lab - Mohamed carries a list. But these need to be postponed until the PET scanner deal is finalized. With the currency exchange rates changing every day, the exact amount needed for the scanner may vary marginally.