Materia Medica Malaysiana

Endon To Help Cancer Patients Through Penyayang

PUTRAJAYA, Nov 1 (Bernama) -- Datin Seri Endon Mahmood, wife of the prime minister, has agreed to be included in a cancer support group called "Penyayang Pesakit Kanser" (PPK) that was formed to provide much-needed moral and counselling support for cancer patients.

She said it had always been her aspiration to be part of an effective cancer support group.

"As a cancer patient myself, I fully understand the importance of the support group for patients and family members alike," she said here when handing over a van donated to PPK, a sector under Penyayang, of which she is the patron and chairman.

The RM91,000 Mitsubishi Delica van, donated by the DRB-Hicom Group, will be used to ferry cancer patients from the half-way house to the cancer treatment centre in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan.

Endon said counselling was very important for a cancer patient, especially during the post-operation/treatment period.

On the formation of PPK, she said Hospital Putrajaya director Dr Naginder Singh had agreed to serve as its chairman. PPK's task is to man and support the activities of the cancer support group.

Endon said Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) would also be part of the PPK when two of its academic staff, Dr Mazanah Muhamad and Dr Othman Omar, agreed to participate as consultants.

"With the inclusion of UPM as a partner, I am sure there will be meaningful programmes (undertaken by PPK)," she said.

Endon also said that the PPK would bring over to Malaysia in early December a physiotherapist whose services she had used for her breast cancer in Los Angeles.

"She (the physiotherapist) and her husband will be an asset to our support group (PPK)," she said.

Later, at a press conference, Endon said the physiotherapist would be in Malaysia for two years to share her expertise and knowledge with PPK in handling cancer patients.

-- BERNAMA