Alert 8.0 - 3rd Phase - Husmata Idak
Easing the Burden of Pediatric Cancer through Compassion and Care
In country like Sri Lanka, pediatric cancer is not just a diagnosis. It is a long, exhausting journey that tests the limits of physical, emotional, and financial endurance. Children and their families, especially those from rural and underserved areas, often face heartbreaking choices: whether to buy life-saving medicine, pay for food, or secure transport to the hospital. For many, these are not isolated decisions, but daily struggles. The dire need for continuous support systems both medical and emotional cannot be overstated. In light of this reality, Leo Club of University of Colombo launched Phase 3, the last phase of Project Alert 8.0, titled “Husmata Idak”, a name that beautifully translates to "A Space to Breathe." The initiative was born from a desire to offer more than just momentary relief to provide genuine, lasting support to young cancer patients and their families.
On May 1st, we held a medicine donation event at Maharagama Apeksha Cancer Hospital, Sri Lanka’s leading national center for cancer treatment and the home of the country’s only dedicated pediatric oncology unit. This institution treats hundreds of children from across the island, many of whom travel long distances to receive care. Understanding the critical role of antibiotics in the treatment process, we donated Vancomycin vaccines, a powerful medication crucial for managing infections in immunocompromised cancer patients. The hospital staff expressed deep gratitude, noting how timely and necessary this donation was during a period of significant medical demand. By choosing Apeksha Hospital, our aim was to reach as many children as possible with life-saving support.
However, healing doesn’t stop at medicine. Prolonged hospital stays often mean disrupted education, missed childhood experiences, and emotional strain. Recognizing this, we extended our support beyond the walls of the hospital with “Alert Week”, conducted from April 21st to 25th at Suwa Arana, a free accommodation facility run by the Indira Cancer Trust. Each day, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, our team and volunteers led interactive, age-appropriate teaching sessions for the children residing at Suwa Arana. Using storytelling, drawing, music, and games, we covered a variety of topics from the solar system to singular and plural nouns, life cycles to body parts making education both fun and meaningful. The sessions were not only educational but also a way to inject joy and spark curiosity in children who have been burdened far too young. The response was overwhelmingly positive. Smiles returned to tired faces, laughter echoed through the rooms, and for a brief moment, cancer took a backseat to childhood wonder. Staff members and parents alike commended the initiative, affirming the importance of emotional and educational engagement in the healing process.
“Husmata Idak” is more than a project; it is a promise of holistic healing. By providing essential medicine and nurturing young minds, we addressed both the physical and emotional dimensions of recovery. Our goal was not just to ease the struggles of today, but to offer strength, knowledge, and joy for the journeys ahead. In every Vancomycin vial, in every song and drawing, we offered a simple message: you are not alone. Through compassion and collective effort, we can create spaces where healing begins, not just in the body but in the heart and soul.
- By Leo Nethmi Amaya -
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