For the sister she loved and lost; a continuing crusade against cancer
Dr. Lanka Jayasuriya Dissanayake (above) and (right) her sister Indira in memory of whom a Trust was born
It was in 2016 that Dr. Lanka Jayasuriya Dissanayake lost her sister Indira to breast cancer. An ebullient mother of two, Indira was unconscious for her last seven days as their father Karu Jayasuriya held her hand throughout at the hospital.
It was posthumously that the idea for the Indira Cancer Trust was kindled and Lanka has since then stood at the helm, driven by her love for the sister (three years her junior) she lost, with whom she had schooled in the UK, in a Moravian church institute where they were the only Asian girls.
Independence and moral fibre fostered in that often gray and exacting milieu (after a traditional local upbringing) stood both sisters well.
Over 24 years Lanka has worked as a doctor in diverse settings including in Leeds, the National Hospital of Sri Lanka, Nawaloka Hospital, Apollo Hospitals, Sri Lanka Red Cross Society and finally at the World Health Organization.
The Indira Cancer Trust that she launched now oversees more than 20 projects. These include Sri Lanka’s first helpline for cancer, livelihood support, a children’s scholarship scheme, help with medications, investigations, equipment, provision of dry rations and programmes that support children with cancer.
Three staff members, 10 volunteer coordinators and over 60 volunteers bolster the trust.
Upto now, they have reached out to 100,000 patients including through the helpline.
Lanka’s dictum is that “Cancer is not a death sentence and there is life after the diagnosis”. She reiterates that it is a disease like heart ailments and diabetes- “and with correct treatment and early detection you will get back to normal.”
The trust hopes to be there for “anyone who was diagnosed with cancer and their family members, to give them the strength and support to accept the diagnosis, and ensure they get treatment and be there in whatever possible ways to help them through this journey to recovery.”
In association with the Ramani Fernando Salons, the trust has given over 1600 wigs to patients going through chemotherapy. With Sonduru Diriyawanthie, a collaborative effort of Kumarika and the Lions Clubs of Mount Lavinia and Bentota, they are providing 10 hospitals throughout Sri Lanka with the necessary wigs on a monthly basis.
Last year, Lanka was recognised for her ardent personal crusade against cancer, when Women in Management named her as one of the Top 50 professional and career women- in the “Best NGO, INGO or Association on Women Empowerment” category.
The proposed Suwa Arana, Sri Lanka’s first Paediatric Palliative Care Centre being built near the Apeksha Hospital Maharagama, is scheduled to open in February 2023. While they have had a buoyant drive so far, some challenges lie ahead. While 50% of the funds for Suwa Arana has been raised, the balance needs to be found.
“The other challenge is the increasing numbers of patients requesting for support,” says Lanka. While they have revamped the system to address the COVID situation, they had to discontinue the regular weekly relaxation programmes (art therapy, yoga and music therapy) held at the Apeksha Hospital.
Lanka acknowledges the support her husband Navin and daughters Samadhee and Mahita have been.
The reward for her five year journey with the trust, Lanka says, is that they have set up a system that can now withstand anything ensuring that its legacy continues.
It is with much hope she looks forward to the Suwa Arana opening its wings, ensuring that children with cancer and families will “receive every support they need”.
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