Support via palliative care: Lifeline Hope Foundation -- improving cancer patients’ lives

Consultant Oncologist Dr. Sujeewa Weerasinghe

By Manjula D. Phillips

Lifeline Hope Foundation was established in 2023 with just ten members involved in   supporting terminally ill cancer patients who are in need of palliative care. Its primary objective is to support such patients live their lives fully with dignity and comfort in the best possible manner.
The Foundation carried out an initial workshop to inform the public about Home-Based Palliative care  provided by the Lifeline Hope Foundation on last Sunday at Amalya Reach Hotel, Homagama. 
The main objective of the workshop is to raise the awareness of  all  Sri Lankans of the  condition of the terminally ill cancer patients who are helpless in every aspect of life,  especially financially,  and focus attention on them.
Palliative Care is a specialised medical approach for people with serious illness that focuses on improving their quality of life by managing symptoms like pain as well as providing psylogical, emotional and spiritual support. It can be provided to anyone at any stage of an illness, including curative treatments,  and can be delivered in various places such as hospitals, homes or clinics.  Lifeline Hope Foundation vision is to be an integral part of the Sri Lankan community and aims to be recognised as a leading palliative care foundation by
 providing physical, emotional, social and spiritual care to promote  the  quality of life of citizens with life threatening illnesses.  
Lifeline Hope Foundation gets  donations from well--wishers on a private basis. Terminally ill cancer patients who are having financial difficulties should register with the Home-Based Palliative care Unit in Apeksha Hospital,  Maharagama,  and thereafter such patients are directed to Lifeline Foundation. At present 30 patients are being cared for by the foundation  each month. When a patient who is getting treatment dies,  a new patient is being directed by the Apeksha hospital to the foundation. Apart from that,  various financial aids are being offered to the selected patients by the Lifeline Hope Foundation. 
130 patients have  benefitted from this initiative so far,  spending 6.2 million in the western and southern provinces. The Home- Based Palliative care services are provided for by the Foundation members visiting the respective patients’ houses by themselves.

Consultant Oncologist Dr.Shama Goonathilaka

Consultant Oncologist Dr.Shama Goonathilaka from Asiri Surgical Hospital and Consultant Oncologist Dr. Sujeewa Weerasinghe from Apeksha Hospital,  Maharagama, participated in the workshop by informing the audience as to what   Palliative care services and treatments are, and on the importance of having the Home- Based Palliative care services in a country like Sri Lanka.
You can contact Lifeline Hope Foundation to help our fellow cancer patients by using below contact details. Lifeline Hope Foundation - A/C number : 084020354808,Swift BIC Code: HBLILKLX, Hatton National Bank, Kadawatha. Address: 187/A, Galrodaya Road, Kadawatha, Sri Lanka.Tel / Whatsapp: +94 76 99 22 998.Email:[email protected]:lifelinehopefoundation.org