MAKNA
 | |
| Founded | 10 November 1994 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Dato’ Mohd Farid Ariffin |
| Type |
Nonprofit organization Social enterprise |
| Focus | Cancer |
| Location | |
Area served | Global |
| Method | Financial Assistance, Treatment, Research, Awareness, Consultancy, Volunteerism |
| Slogan | The Human Spirit can Achieve What it is Set Out to do When the Will is Able |
| Website | makna.org.my |
MAKNA (Majlis Kanser Nasional) or National Cancer Council Malaysia is a not-for-profit social enterprise mainly tasked to pool and utilize every effort, expertise and welfare from every faction of society to fight cancer and to reduce the pain, suffering and morbidity that the cancer patients often experience. It aims to provide curative care, preventive care, cancer research and support services to cancer patients and their families, high-risk groups and the general public in Malaysia and throughout the world. Together with ordinary Malaysians from all walks of life, MAKNA hope to inspire extraordinary change and give people affected by cancer renewed hope in life.
MAKNA registered under the Register of Societies Malaysia on 10 November 1994 and officially launched on 30 March 1995. It was founded by Dato’ Mohd Farid Ariffin in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The organization is named after the Malay language word for 'meaning' (makna) and its slogan is A Meaning to Life.
Periwinkle symbol
The notable logo of MAKNA is inspired by the periwinkle flower, scientifically named Catharanthus roseus (Madagascar Periwinkle), a species of the Catharanthus native and endemic to Madagascar. Locally known as Kemunting Cina, periwinkle is a perennial plant commonly found in the gardens, by the roadside and even on the playgrounds in Malaysia. This lovely and delicate flower is in fact revolutionizing the treatment of cancer through a number of chemotherapy drugs. Chemicals in these plants have been found to contain the unique ability to keep certain kinds of cancerous cells from reproducing. For example, these chemicals have been known to have helped increase the survival rate of childhood leukaemia from a mere 10 per cent to 95 per cent!
The most important plant source ingredient in chemotherapy is alkaloids from the Madagascar Periwinkle. Two alkaloids named vinblastine and vincristine are today commonly used individually or combined with other forms of therapy for cancer treatment. With these meaningful contribution to the cancer society, MAKNA decided to embrace this flower as the organization's emblem in the battle against cancer.
History
Organisation of consistent cancer to those who are implemented in raising the quality of life , MAKNA for the first time in 2011 . MAKNA has been diversified to support and conduct research in basic sciences and clinical research on cancer and a healthy lifestyle . Makna is registered under the Registrar of Societies Malaysia on 10 November 1994 dan dilancarkan secara rasmi pada 30 March 1995 . MAKNA Bursary Program , which is a monetary assistance project providing financially-challenged cancer types and the patients ' background . MAKNA has been diversified to support the nature of different cancer information effectively to all levels of society . Over the years , the type of services offered by MAKNA Bursary Program , which could lead to innovative treatment cost . Wira Kanser was celebrated by MAKNA.
Founding
Dato' Mohd Farid Arifin, its founder, has vast management, organisational and entrepreneurship experience, having served as a teacher, lecturer and lawyer and later as Deputy Finance Minister (1987 – 1989) and Deputy Health Minister (1989 – 1995).
MAKNA was set up from his own family experience, and today it is a home-grown organisation fully focused on cancer.
His teenage son Farul Rafiq was 17 when diagnosed with leukemia in 1992. Farul was flown to London, England (Hammersmith Hospital) for treatment. There, he underwent a regimented treatment which included an autologous bone marrow transplant, which was not yet available in Malaysia. A few years into battling the diseases, he was finally certified cancer-free.
While recuperating at the hospital in London, Dato’ Mohd Farid’s family made a promise that on their return to Malaysia, they would set up a cancer organisation aimed to help those from lower income groups gain access to cancer treatment.
On 4 August 2011, Farul died of lung fibrosis.
People of MAKNA
President & Founder: Dato’ Mohd Farid Ariffin
General Manager: Farahida Mohd Farid
Board of Trustees:
YAM Tengku Puteri Lela Wangsa Pahang Tengku Tan Sri Hajah Meriam Binti Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah (PSM SIMP, JP)
Toh Puan Sri Sagiyah Salikin (Wife to Chairman of PNB Tun Dato' Seri Ahmad Sarji)
Executive Committee:
Vice President: Prof Emeritus Dr Cheong Soon Keng (Dean UTAR & Heamatologist PPUKM)
Honorary Secretary: Eric Lai Tuck Sing (Lawyer, Lai & Associate)
Asst Honorary Secretary: Dato' Freida Dato' Mohd Pilus (Chairman Sek Sri Cempaka Int)
Honorary Treasurer: Zainol Talib (Chartered Fin Consultant & Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow)
Asst Honorary Treasurer: Douglas Tan Hock Kee (Exec Dir, Asian Business Solutions Sdn Bhd)
Member:
Puan Mimi Hafizan Abdul Rahman (Director of Klinik Nina)
Ms Yeo Eng Lam (MD Kemajuan Abadi Sdn Bhd)
Prof Datin Paduka Dr Aini Ideris (Deputy Vice Chancellor UPM)
Prof Dr Ishak Mat (Deputy Dir Research Advance Media & Dental Institute USM, Penang)
Prof Dr Jafri Malin Abdullah (Head of Dept Sch of Medicine HUSM Kubang Kerian, Kelantan)
MAKNA's core activities
Over the years, the type of services offered by MAKNA have been diversified to support the nature of different cancer types and the patients' background that were assisted by the organization. MAKNA's core activities are support service, treatment, education & awareness, research, fund & development and international division.
Support service
Bursary - Provides monthly financial assistance of RM150-RM500 to needy cancer patients upon referral from Hospital Medical Social Department. Intervention is provided in the form of necessities such as non-formulae drugs, surgical equipments, prosthesis, colostomy bags and wheelchairs. Every year, the Bursary programme aids over 4,000 patients with annual allocation of RM10 million.
Micro Credit - Implemented to provide small unsecured loans to cancer patients, survivors and their families for income improvement through business activities, are interest free and require no collateral.
Young Cancer Survivor Scholarship - Aims to support young cancer survivors to further their tertiary studies. Underprivileged cancer survivors aged 25 or younger with the right potential and interest will be given assistance for a better future through education.
Home Visits - All patients under the Bursary programme are visited at home by the MAKNA Home Visit Team, Volunteers and Staff to evaluate their treatment progress and socio-economic status.
Cancer Support Group - Our team of well-trained staff comprising volunteers and cancer survivors are constantly on hand to counsel cancer patients and their family members on coping with the emotional suffering of cancer.
MAKNA Cancer Helpline (MCH) - Toll-free helpline and infoline for cancer patients, their families and general public. Can be contacted at 1-800-88-MAKNA (62562).
Halfway House - It is a house which allows patients and their caretakers who are from afar to stay for a short while waiting to receive treatment from the hospital. The current halfway house is located in Taman Mount Austin, Johor. MAKNA is planning to open a total of nine halfway houses in a span of two years; including three planned halfway houses in Bertam in Pulau Pinang, Kubang Kerian in Kelantan and Kuching, Sarawak.[1][2]
Volunteer Management - Volunteerism is vital to a non-profit organisation like MAKNA. Every year, more people realise the essential services that volunteers provide and seek to be part of this noble calling. By registering as volunteers they offer invaluable contribution and assistance in MAKNA's mission to help cancer sufferers and combat the disease.
Treatment
PPUKM - MAKNA Cancer Centre
Established in 1999, this collaborative effort aspires to be one of the most effective and compassionate cancer treatment centre in the region. It provides comprehensive and state-of-the-art facilities to cancer patients of all financial background, thus allowing even the poorest patients access to the best treatment facilities. The centre comprises The Tengku Ampuan Afzan Oncology Ward, Radiotherapy, Research facilities and Bone Marrow Transplant Unit which is one of the largest in the country. In 2014, 1,396 patients received treatment at the centre.[3]
References
- ↑ BERNAMA (17 March 2016). "Lapan lagi rumah perantaraan Makna bakal dibuka tahun ini". Utusan Malaysia. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
- ↑ "Makna sets up halfway house in Johor Baru for cancer patients". The Star (Malaysia). 29 March 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
- ↑ "MAKNA Annual Report 2014" (PDF). MAKNA. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
External links
- MAKNA (English)