MAKNA (Majlis Kanser Nasional) launches its sixth halfway house today, located at Precinct 15, Wilayah Persekutuan Putrajaya. Named as Villa Farul, it is the sixth halfway house that has been launched by MAKNA following several others located in Johor Bahru, Penang, Kelantan, Sarawak and Sabah.

Aiming to serve underprivileged cancer patients receiving treatment at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the temporary and free-or-charge accommodations hope to alleviate the burden of those undergoing frequent radiotherapy and chemotherapy cycle treatments or check-up appointments as they can be physically unfit to travel back and forth between homes and hospitals, especially for those coming from other parts of the country. The establishment of this halfway house is significant as NCI houses some of the best cancer treatment services in Malaysia.

“We hope by providing this requisite facility, cancer patients from all parts of Malaysia can take this opportunity to undergo their treatment without having to worry about the travelling cost,” says Pn. Farahida Mohd Farid, MAKNA General Manager.

“Through our observation, patients travel far especially from the most rural parts of the country. They have difficulties to incur travel costs including accommodations costs to take a trip to the hospital. We hope with such facilities, it will ease their treatment course without any interruption”, she added.

Also present was NCI deputy director Dr. Muhamad Azrin Omar. Designed to ensure patients experience a cosy and calming stay, the halfway house is equipped with basic home facilities and kitchen supplies. The halfway house also comes with 4 bedrooms, 11 comfortable single beds, internet access, as well as free transportation ride to and fro the hospital.

MAKNA is looking at the prospect of opening 3 more halfway houses in the future to assist cancer patients needing such facility across the nation, with the next one set to be located in Kuala Lumpur.