Samagi Sevana raising the hope of cancer patients

16 June 2023 12:11 am Views - 830

The Catholic Church began helping cancer patients since 1956 when the  Archbishop of Colombo appointed late Bishop Don Sylvester as the priest  to work with cancer patients when he was the first parish priest at  Christ King Church Pannipitiya

Mr. Theo Fernando and the family provided us with hope in the year 2016  when they said we will come to help His Eminence. Together with them  Access Group of Companies took a leading role

Samagi Sevana is a Centre for Cancer Care, helping cancer patients who visit the Maharagama National Cancer Institute or Apeksha Hospital for treatment regularly.   
The centre provides boarding facilities, free meals, help to purchase drugs, sponsors a cancer patient, conducts livelihood programmes, music, art therapy for children, counselling, clothing and provides life support completely free.   

“The Catholic Church began helping cancer patients since 1956 when the Archbishop of Colombo appointed late Bishop Don Sylvester as the priest to work with cancer patients when he was the first parish priest at Christ King Church Pannipitiya. Since then the centre has been helping Cancer patients in every way possible. This became a rewarding apostolate,” said Rev. Fr. Jude Nicholas - Chaplain to the Cancer Patients Maharagama. Archbishop of Colombo, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith made this apostolate as an independent ministry with a chaplain appointed in 2020.  

“The number of cancer patients in the Country increased. Maharagama became a colony for the cancer patients. Centres built to help cancer patients were insufficient. Children with blood cancer and with their parents met his Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith in 2015 and said they are suffering enough when finding accommodation for their children when they come to Maharagama Hospital,” Fr. Nicholas said describing the story behind the Samagi Sevana.  
God’s miraculous hands intervened. Mr. Theo Fernando and the family provided us with hope in the year 2016 when they said we will come to help His Eminence. Together with them Access Group of Companies took a leading role. Immediately we met another group of people from U.S.A. Professor Harindra Fernando and Ravini Fernando met His Eminence and gave us a hope. They said John and Varuni Novick foundation will come to join hands with His Eminence in building a home for cancer patients. This happened in 2017,” the priest said.  

The foundation was laid in 2018 with plans to open in 2019. This did not happen due to the Easter Sunday bomb attack and Covid 19 pandemic. Later in the year 2022 Samagi Sevana was opened with a complete building for cancer patients.   
“We began admitting cancer patients and helping in every possible way. For 12 months we had admitted 442 patients and spent 5 to 6 millions in rupees. This we believe is a challenging apostolate,” Fr. Nicholas said describing the arduous mission the church had taken up. Samagi Sevana welcomes anyone who is willing to join in this worthy cause specially to assist cancer patients and their family members who are undergoing tremendous physical and psychological agony.

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