One man's quest now a reality

M.S.H. Mohamed the man who set out to collect funds to get a PET scan for the Maharagama Hospital thanks everyone for their donations

A single-minded purpose is what has been obvious, cutting across all races and religions, whether it was a 50-rupee note that was handed over to the bank or a transfer instruction for a huge 35 million rupees.

Everyone united to contribute their mite to make the quest for a PET (positron emission tomography) scan machine for the National Cancer Institute at Maharagama a reality.

On Wednesday (June 15), the announcement came at a media briefing that the collection of Rs. 200 million which seemed an impossible task has now been achieved, with the figure reaching Rs. 233 million up to that day.

It was an emotionally-charged moment when businessman and Founder President of the Kadijah Foundation, M.S.H. Mohamed who set off on this quest with the National Cancer Institute, announced this achievement and thanked all those who made a donation for this worthy cause.

While thanking both the print and electronic media for their tremendous support in taking the message to the public and mobilizing them to contribute whatever they could, Mr. Mohamed, his voice breaking with emotion said that his son who is suffering from cancer was in hospital that day.

Mr. Mohamed got activated to raise funds for a PET scan machine when he took his 17-year-old son Mohamed Humaid who is battling an osetosarcoma to the National Cancer Institute and found that the one-and-only such machine in the whole country was available only at a private hospital.

With the ‘gold standard’ in the diagnosis and treatment of certain cancers such as lymphomas and malignant growths being PET scans, many families with a cancer patient just could not afford the Rs. 155,000 needed for each such scan.

Launching the drive to collect the Rs. 200 million, the cost of the PET scan machine, on March 4, Mr. Mohamed who kept track of each deposit saw about Rs. 7 million accruing that month and then Rs. 40 million in April and more and more funds flowing in May and finally reaching the target and more in June. “In just three months, there have been more than 70,000 deposits from within Sri Lanka and also across the world, with a deposit every five seconds.”

Any funds that remain after the purchase of the PET scan machine will be utilized to buy other essential equipment for the National Cancer Institute, he said, with the aim of making this hospital the best in Asia and even the world.

While National Cancer Institute Director M.Y.K. Wilfred assured that tender procedures would be followed strictly in keeping with national requirements when purchasing the PET scan machine, Consultant Paediatric Oncologist Dr. Mahendra Somathilaka reiterated that the ownership of this vital machine is held by the public of Sri Lanka.

Underscoring that this effort by all Sri Lankans is a testament to the unity of the country, Ven. Dambara Amila Thera said it sent a crystal clear message to those who wish to divide this country on ethnic and religious lines.

Meanwhile, Wijeya Newspapers Limited was very much a part of the campaign to raise funds for the PET scan machine. While our sister publications were also heavily involved, the Sunday Times highlighted the need for this machine in its PLUS cover story headlined, ‘This PET is a grave need’ on May 1.