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Fighting it together
By N.Dilshath Banu
The day starts well before sunrise for Sanath (name changed). After a bath, he prepares for his morning chores although his capacity is limited. As the day progresses, his family brings him meals and at 11 p.m, it is bedtime but he says that his eyes won't shut until the lights in his ward are switched off.

Twenty-six-year-old Sanath came to the Cancer Hospital in Maharagama recently, to be treated for Leukaemia. He smiles bravely as he explains that he's now adjusting to his new lifestyle. "Time passes," he says, taking the book that is besides his white pillow. "I read all the time. I borrowed this book from my neighbour. It is all about Lord Buddha's words."

Suddenly his smile fades and his tone changes. "It all happened a few weeks ago. I started to have frequent headaches and severe pain in my leg. I didn't take these conditions very seriously as I had had these symptoms earlier. But anyway I felt like I needed to speak to my family doctor," said Sanath, narrating how his life became entangled in the web of cancer.

When Sanath consulted his family doctor, he had prescribed medicine for the common cold. However, since Sanath's health did not improve he was ordered to take some blood tests. "I was very worried and sensed that something was really wrong," he said. The blood report showed a low level of haemoglobin and he was directed to a consultant at the Kalubowila Hospital.

There, he underwent bone marrow tests and it was confirmed that he had leukaemia. "I just got married two months ago. I knew my wife from my schooldays. It was when we both joined an English class after the A/L's that I felt that she was the one for me. She accepted me and we had a wonderful relationship for nearly five years. All we wanted to have is a peaceful and lovely family blessed with children. But I think this is a part of cruel fate," said Sanath.

" But I am sure that my condition is not so serious and I am hoping to get back home after 3 or 4 months," he adds optimistically. Seated on a chair in the same ward and looking around, 52 year-old Silva (name changed) says, " I don't know how I got cancer, but one day while watching TV, I suddenly collapsed before my family." For the past three years, Silva has been treated at the Cancer Hospital. " Compared to other hospitals, it's good, but many things should be done to meet the demands of the increasing number of patients," he says.

" We have a policy, supported by the Ministry of Health to give out some wards to be maintained by organisations outside," said Dr. Yasantha Ariyaratne, Director of the Cancer Hospital. "Almost all of the wards are taken care of in this way. We get lots of equipment, like beds and if there is any excess, we keep the best for our hospital and give the rest to the other hospitals where there are fewer facilities."

"Many expatriates and certain banks contribute towards our hospital. Of the banks, Standard Chartered Bank has been with us for a long time and we hope other private sector institutions will follow their example," said Dr. Ariyaratne.

For the past ten years Standard Chartered Bank has assisted the Maharagama Hospital as part of their community projects. To mark the 10th year of their association with the hospital, Standard Chartered Bank undertook to renovate wards 3 and 4 and donated a nebulizer, ceiling fans and a television.

"We do not believe in just handing over a cheque and forgetting about it. Our staff is involved in every step of the project and even this renovation was personally supervised by them," said Mr. Vishnu Mohan, CEO of the Bank, adding, 'We believe in our brand promise of being the "Right Partner", which means we are there every step of the way."

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