Jayam Wijayaratnam Cancer Care Centre

“An individual doesn’t get cancer, a family does”

“It was my husband’s dream to build a hospital for cancer patients in Negombo. We live in Colombo but spent much time in Negombo. What Jayam noted was the absence of such a hospital or even OPD services between Maharagama and Puttalam, a distance of more than 150 km. Hence his dream of donating a fully equipped hospital for cancer patients. Very unfortunately Jayam died suddenly on January 18, 2013.”

That was when the deeply mourning wife of Jayam Wijayaratnam, Yogeswari (we use the abbreviation Yoga), decided to build a hospital in memory of her husband as a lasting tribute to him. His family business which he inherited was in Dankotuwa. He had been a Municipal Councilor and Deputy Mayor of Negombo and done much charity. To mention just two projects: he built the chetiya in the Dankotuwa temple and donated breakfast to around fifty children of the Daham Pasala for many years, until 2013.

Yoga continued her chat with me as we sat on October 10 on the verandah of the almost completely built hospital on Siriwardhena Road, Ragama. She had taken me to see the construction and meet Architect C Anjalendran, the oncologist to be in charge – Dr Sujeewa Siyambalpitiya, and the contractor L B Ranjit.

“My idea was to construct and equip the hospital and hand it over to the Department of Health Services. I went to the health authorities in Negombo with the proposition. No interest shown. I then went to the Ragama health office and made my offer. They very gladly received me and my suggestion. Thus the selection of Ragama as the site of the hospital. In fact the site they offered was larger than I had expected”

Yoga continued: “I signed an MOU with the Secretary, Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine, and immediately thereafter, construction began. I had already requested Architect Anjalendran to design the building. He did so willingly, incorporating his views and what he had perceived about hospital buildings overseas on his several study tours abroad. He also included suggestions, requests and advice from Dr Sarath Premsiri, Deputy Director of Ragama Teaching Hosptial, (recently retired) and Dr Siyambalapitiya. And thus I am perfectly happy with what has been done. We were to hand over the fully equipped building in June this year. Postponement was solely due to the covid situation in the country. The hospital will be declared open and handed over completely to the Health Ministry in January 2022.”

The building and its unique concept

When Yoga and I arrived at the hospital a couple of Sundays ago, I was taken round the two storey building by L B Ranjith, an efficient contractor. What struck me was the ambience of this hospital which was entirely different to the run-of-the-mill, usual in Lankan hospitals. Here was a completely patient friendly ‘home’; even I discerned this fact. A large open-to-the–skies paved courtyard with huge pots with thriving bushes/small trees had on its two sides the wards which were rooms accommodating eight beds. Sets of toilets and bathrooms were on both wings. This pattern was replicated upstairs. Also set aside were rooms to be equipped as labs, patient screening areas, offices and nurses and doctors’ rest rooms. Living quarters for the nurses on site were being constructed. An auditorium is also completed since an additional target of the hospital is to create awareness on the early detection of cancer.

Cancer patients specially, whether terminal or being cured, need an environment of serenity, open aired and uncrowded. As designed, a few patients in a room is very much more preferable to a large ward.

The architect and his ideas

Those who know Anjalendran are aware of his excellence, innovative ideas and dedication to the projects in hand. He gives fully of his time, energy and ability. What he had to say about the hospital he had designed and seen through construction was: “It has been a good educational process for me because unlike most other buildings I undertake, this had additional requirements and certain special features to be incorporated.

“Yoga’s hospital is designed not to be an urban hospital but more rural, which is a greater requirement in this country. Patients should be able to see the sky even when they lie abed, and enjoy a subtle feeling of freedom. So this was an overriding principle in the design; thus the double screens: they cool the insides but also permit ventilation and cross ventilation – the double screen principle I learned from Ronald Lewcock. The building ending up a box is avoided thus.

“This hospital is unconventional in its shape too; it is not a perfect rectangle as most hospitals are. It takes the shape of the site on which it is built. A large open courtyard emphasizes the airiness and sense of not being closed in.”

He laughingly mentioned that Yoga Wijayaratnam was scared he’d go free on colours, after seeing some of his buildings and his other designs. “However, fortunately Dr Siyambalapitiya seemed to approve of buildings I had got constructed; he introduced bright colours to his new built home. So I could have my way as regards colour – somewhat!”

The Chief Oncologist’s input

Dr Sujeewa Siyambalapitiya, Consultant Oncologist, Colombo North Teaching Hospital, Ragama, intends being the Head of the medical team which will serve this hospital. His interest was ignited from the time Yoga took her proposal to the health authorities at Ragama and he has been at the construction site very often. He came over when I was taken on the Sunday visit. His enthusiasm was a real fillip to everyone concerned.

Asked about the impact of the project on the lives of the community, he replied: “Cancer is a growing problem in the world, proven statistically, and is the same in Sri Lanka. We had too few hospitals dedicated to cancer patients: Maharagama, Anuradhapura, Galle, Jaffna, Kandy. Far too few in number and accommodation capacity. So the moment we met this single donor – Mrs Wijayaratnam – the Ministry of Health signed a MOU. Once this hospital is in service, people will benefit so very much – a hospital dedicated to cancer, free of charge and easy to reach.

“The team working on the project have as their aim ensuring a homely atmosphere to patients. I admired Architect Anjalendran’s work from books I have browsed. He gave me material to read on the Magee Cancer Centres in Europe on which he based his design. Thus our aim is to merge nature to the environment surrounding the patients. They will feel comfortable and comforted during their treatment, even during terminal stages. We also will accommodate patients’ families so they are close to them. That privilege or necessity of loved ones being near is not within the services offered in other cancer hospitals.

“I have had training in hospitals in the UK and Singapore and have worked in or visited most hospitals in Sri Lanka. They are just hospitals. This hospital will be very different. It will be a home to cancer patients who in the majority of cases have to stay long in hospital, and we will ensure comfort since they are not mere ‘clients’ but ill human beings in our care. The terminally ill need a last home with serenity, peace and care assured them. All my colleagues are looking forward to the opening of this hospital. I anticipate around 2,000 to 3,000 patients annually, which is second only to the Colombo National Cancer Centre, because we are in the most densely populated of provinces – the Western Province.”

Siyambalapitiya added with obvious sincerity that the Jayam Wijayaratnam Cancer Care Centre in Ragama would be a great asset to the entire nation. “I am looking forward very much to its completion. I wish to dedicate my life and every skill and ability I have to working in this hospital.”

Yogeswari Wijayaratnam who has donated the well equipped and excellently built hospital at great expense, with dedicated medical staff, deserves gratitude from the entire nation.

“Philanthropy isn’t all about money; it’s about feeling the pain of others and caring enough about their needs, to help.”

(Timothy Pina).