MAKNA

MAKNA - National Cancer Council

Founder(s)	Dato’ Mohd Farid Ariffin
Type	Nonprofit organization Social enterprise
Founded	November 10th, 1994
Location	Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Area served	Global
Focus	Cancer
Method	Financial Assistance, Treatment, Research, Awareness, Consultancy, Volunteerism
Motto	The Human Spirit can Achieve What it is Set Out to do When the Will is Able
Website	makna.org.my

MAKNA (Majlis Kanser Nasional) or the National Cancer Council Malaysia is a not-for-profit social enterprise mainly tasked to pool and utilise every effort, expertise and welfare from every faction of society to fight cancer and to reduce the pain, suffering and morbidity that the cancer patients often experience. It aims to provide curative care, preventive care, cancer research and support services to cancer patients and their families, high-risk groups and the general public in Malaysia and throughout the world. Together with ordinary Malaysians from all walks of life, MAKNA hope to inspire extraordinary change and give people affected by cancer renewed hope in life.

MAKNA registered under the Register of Societies Malaysia on 10th November 1994 and officially launched on 30th March 1995. It was founded by Dato’ Mohd Farid Ariffin in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The organization is named after the Malay language word for 'meaning' (makna) and its slogan is A Meaning to Life.

Periwinkle symbol

The notable logo of MAKNA is inspired by the periwinkle flower, scientifically named Catharanthus roseus (Madagascar Periwinkle), a species of the Catharanthus native and endemic to Madagascar. Locally known as Kemunting Cina, periwinkle is a perennial plant commonly found in the gardens, by the roadside and even on the playgrounds in Malaysia. This lovely and delicate flower is in fact revolutionize the treatment of cancer through a number of chemotherapy drugs. Chemicals in these plants have been found to contain the unique ability to keep certain kinds of cancerous cells from reproducing. For example, these chemicals have been known to have helped increase the survival rate of childhood leukaemia from a mere 10 per cent to 95 per cent!

The most important plant source ingredient in chemotherapy is alkaloids from the Madagascar Periwinkle. Two alkaloids named vinblastine and vincristine are today commonly used individually or combined with other forms of therapy for cancer treatment. With these meaningful contribution to the cancer society, MAKNA decided to embrace this flower as the organization's emblem in the battle against cancer.

MAKNA's work and services

Over the years, the type of services offered by MAKNA have been diversified to support the nature of different cancer types and the patients' background that were assisted by the organization.

• MAKNA’s Bursary Programme, which is a monetary assistance project that provides financially-challenged cancer patients the required support such as treatment cost.

• The purchase of cancer-related medication and treatment at the Institut Kanser MAKNA - Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (IKM-PPUKM).

• MAKNA Cancer Research (ongoing since 2001) - information, technology and development in finding cure for cancer.

• To provide consistent cancer awareness and education programmes to educate and promote an understanding of a healthy lifestyle.

• Fund-raising Projects.

• To raise sufficient funds for cancer-related services to the community.

• To provide screening and early diagnostic facilities to enable early detection of cancer.

• To source, collate and disseminate cancer information effectively to all levels of society.

• To encourage, support and conduct research in basic sciences and clinical research on cancer, which could lead to innovative treatment approaches.

• Young Cancer Survivor Scholarship, which aims to support young cancer survivors wishing to further their tertiary studies.

• Volunteer Community Outreach Programme, which is useful for building and maintaining civil society, a sphere of organized activities are implemented in raising the quality of life.

External links

• MAKNA (English)