Tunku Laksamana Johor Cancer Foundation (TLJCF) chief executive officer Mohd Ikmal Izam Zaini (middle) taking a group photo with the participants of the Think Pink and Be Bold programme held at Hutan Bandar Mutiara Rini, Johor Baru.
The Tunku Laksamana Johor Cancer Foundation (TLJCF) has spent almost RM11.4mil to help 3,718 cancer patients from 2016 until last year.
TLJCF chief executive officer Mohd Ikmal Izam Zaini said the expenses involved medication aid, medical equipment aid, specialised milk aid, Positron Emission Tomography scan aid, and financial aid in terms of transportation bills.
The cancer patients may also apply for one-off financial aid up to RM500 to pay for their transportation needs, which will encourage them to get their treatment once they have been diagnosed, he added.
“There are cases where patients living in rural areas such as Pontian and Batu Pahat have to travel all the way to HSA or HSI in Johor Baru every week, so these aids will help alleviate some of their financial costs.
“We provided this aid after finding out that there are patients who refuse to get their treatment because they cannot afford to travel,” he said when met at his office in Kota Iskandar.
Mohd Ikmal added that each patient can make their application through the Medical Social Work Department at selected government hospitals in Johor.
Cancer Support Group under the Tunku Laksamana Johor Cancer Foundation (TLJCF) giving moral support to a patient during one of their Home Visit programmes in Tangkak, Muar.
TLJCF is also planning to conduct more cancer awareness programmes this year, as the foundation believes that the level of awareness amongst the local Johoreans is still low, he informed.
“We usually have three main awareness events every year, namely World Cancer Day, the Corporate Cancer Awareness Programme, and the Be Bold Programme.
“The Corporate Cancer Awareness Programme involved us giving cancer awareness talks to interested companies.
“While the Be Bold Programme was more of a family day where the cancer patients are invited in this programme and they get to do fun activities together so they get to know each other and give support between them and their family members.
“By comparison, we believed that the local awareness of cancer is still not up to par; other foreign countries have now shifted their focus to early detection and urged their people to go for annual health checks,” he added.
Besides the awareness programme, TLJCF will also be continuing its monthly home visit programme together with its Cancer Support Group, which consists of 200 cancer patients and cancer survivors.
“What they do is usually give each other moral support and share sessions between them on their dietary intake and lifestyle, and at the same time, family support plays a crucial role in helping cancer patients go through their treatment.
A nurse checking up on a patient at the Tunku Laksamana Johor Haematology Ward at Sultanah Aminah Hospital, Johor Baru.
“We find that cancer patients have a higher chance of recovering if they have the needed support from their family, husband or wife, and even their children; this will help reduce their stress and boost their morale to get cured,” he said.
Mohd Ikmal also shared that these sessions are sometimes joined by TLJCF chairperson Permaisuri Johor Raja Zarith Sofiah Almarhum Sultan Idris Shah.
“The patients would be overwhelmed with the presence of Her Majesty; they would feel appreciated and often boost their spirits to come forward for treatment.
“Although these visits are only about 15 minutes, the positive impact goes beyond,” he said, adding that the foundation will also work with the Raja Zarith Sofiah of Johor Foundation (YRZSNJ) to provide for the patient’s needs.
Pix 1. Tunku Laksamana Johor Cancer Foundation (TLJCF) chairperson Permaisuri Johor Raja Zarith Sofiah Almarhum Sultan Idris Shah (second left) visiting a cancer patient in Taman Desa Jaya, Johor Baru. Also present is Johor Women Civil Servants Association (Puspanita) chairman Puan Sri Datin Dr Noor Azizah Abdul Latiff (left).
“The foundation is also targeting RM1.5mil to be spent this year, which will help fund the medication for the cancer patients who are in need. We hope to be able to get more funds so that we can share our help with more cancer patients.
“Last year, we managed to spend RM1mil from the donations, which have helped 577 cancer patients in the state.”
Mohd Ikmal also shared that TLJCF is also planning to upgrade two new Oncology Treatment Centres this year in two districts, namely Sultanah Nora Ismail Hospital in Batu Pahat and Segamat Hospital.
Mohd Ikmal explained that Sultanah Nora Ismail Hospital already has an Oncology Daycare Unit, and upgrading works began last December and are expected to be completed by March of this year.
Pix 2. Tunku Laksamana Johor Cancer Foundation (TLJCF) chairperson Permaisuri Johor Raja Zarith Sofiah Almarhum Sultan Idris Shah (middle) taking a group photo with cancer survivor during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration last year at Menara MBJB, Johor Baru.
“For now, we have already upgraded three Oncology Treatment Centres, namely the Tunku Laksamana Johor Complex at Permai Hospital, the Tunku Laksamana Johor Haematology Ward at Sultanah Aminah Hospital, and the Tunku Laksamana Johor Foundation Oncology Treatment Centre at Sultanah Fatimah Specialist Hospital in Muar.
“So once completed, it will help cater for cancer patients from the northern part of Johor, and they no longer need to travel down to HSA or HSI,” he said.
As for the Segamat Hospital, TLJCF is currently planning the centre facilities, which are expected to be completed by the end of this year, he added.
“We will be using their former emergency unit department and turning it into our daycare centre, where patients can come for their chemotherapy session at ease and provide room for their family to rest as well.
“So this is our target for this year; we not only want to provide cancer patients with medical and facility aid, but we also wanted to provide them with extra comfort when they go for treatment along with their families,” he said, adding that the foundation is also planning to set up and upgrade another centre in Kluang next year.
