Fillip for cancer care in A'pura

5-storey unit brings treatment under one roof:

by Dhaneshi Yatawara

A five-storeyed cancer unit will get off the ground in Anuradhapura shortly. The unit will be built as a full-fledged cancer treatment centre, bringing under one roof cancer treatment facilities scattered in different parts of the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital.

The cancer treatment unit at present is congested, with numerous complaints being forwarded to the medical authorities over the lack of proper space for patients. In most wards, one bed serves two patients, even those undergoing chemotherapy. In some cases patients have to sleep on the floor.

"The Anuradhapura hospital not only serves as the centre for the North Central Province but serves some parts of the Central, North Western and Northern Provinces as well," Director, Dr. Lionel Muhandiramge said. "This is the cause for congestion in the hospital," he said.

In the case of specific medical needs, such as treating cancer, the situation does get chaotic due to the large number of patients, he said.

"Lack of staff is an overall problem faced by the Anurdhapura Teaching Hospital," Dr. Muhandiramge admitted. He said the Ministry of Health has been informed of the shortage and was aware of the situation. "If a doctor or nurse is appointed to the Hospital, we have to wait until they pass out from the respective academic institutes. This happens periodically," he added.

Dedicated staff

Dr. Muhandiramge was full of praise for the staff at the unit. "Amidst these seemingly insurmountable difficulties, the staff at the cancer unit are a dedicated lot and provide proper care and relieve patients from pain," he said. The Oncologist in charge, Dr. Thushari Hapuarachchi said they gave a holistic approach to treating patients. "Though the main treatment methods for cancer are chemotherapy and radiotherapy, we include palliative care in our treatment methods. The nature of cancer is such that we cannot depend on only a single traditional treatment method. Treatment is meted out on a case by case basis." Dr. Hapuarachchi said. Palliative care is part and parcel of cancer treatment, she added.

Treatment also include counselling for patients, as cancer is traumatising and depressing for the patient and family members as well. "We get assistance from several Non Governmental Organisations. They send counsellors to the cancer unit.We get volunteer counsellors from a few government institutes. In addition we have trained one nurse as a counsellor," Dr. Hapuarachchi said.

Before the national development plan to elevate cancer treatment in Sri Lanka began at the Anuradhapura cancer unit, the staff had to find ways and means to ease congestion in the wards. One method was to send patients (depending on their medical condition) to the Cancer Care Association in Kurundankulama, a few kilometres away from the town.

Charity organisation

The Cancer Care Association is run under the guidance of a group of doctors, including oncologists who care and facilitate patients sent to them on the approval of the doctors in charge of the Anuradhapura cancer unit.

The Sri Lanka Cancer Society plays a major role too in assisting patients in various ways. "Many patients face transport problems and these charity organisations assist them in many ways," said Dr. Hapuarachchi.

Medical officers of the cancer unit as a collective, assist cancer patients as well. According to Dr. Hapuarachchi, though more space cannot be provided for patients, they provide monetary support to needy patients.

With the new plan to build a multi-storied building as the new cancer treatment unit, more facilities are expected. According to Dr. Hapuarachchi, treatment technology will be advanced. Until 2015, Sri Lanka used the Cobolt 60 machine for radiotherapy. With the new plan to elevate cancer treatment methods, it will be replaced with the Linear Accelerator. "Anuradhapura falls into phase two of the national development plan and as the first phase is almost complete, we will get improved technology to treat patients," said Dr. Hapuarachchi. "With the new technology safe treatment can be expected for patients," he said.

The absence of a paediatric ward in the cancer unit is a major issue, due to the increased number of children seeking treatment. According to Dr. Hapuarachchi at the present the cancer unit is affiliated with the general paediatric ward and children are treated here. "But this cannot be done for all children. We send some of them to Colombo, which many families find difficult as they come from villages," she said.

The new building will include a paediatric unit and problems faced by the cancer unit will be eased to a great extent, he said.

"With the plan to build the new multi-storied building a solution to the current situation will be found," said Dr. Hapuarachchi.

The Government has allocated the money for construction work and tenders have been granted to the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau of Sri Lanka. Construction work is scheduled to commence this year. It is expected to be complete within the next two years, he said.

Pix: Mahinda Vithanachchi