GEORGE TOWN, 17 July 2014 - It was a therapeutic moment when Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) personnel went to the Penang Hospital today to present duit raya (cash in envelopes for Hari Raya) and gifts to cancer-stricken children.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Division of Industry and Community Network (BJIM), Professor Dato’ Dr. See Ching Mey was present to distribute duit raya to nearly 100 patients who were obviously brimming with joy.

In this USM charity programme organised in conjunction with the month of Ramadhan Al-Mubarak, Raya festive songs as well as children’s songs were also performed by the staff of the School of the Arts and USM Dewan Budaya.

The songs arranged by Associate Professor Dr. Razif Mohd and Ramnah Ramli kept the patients entertained as well as their parents and the hospital staff-on-duty.

When asked after the distribution of the donation, See Ching Mey said that while it is not possible to cure the cancer these children have, it is hoped that the USM group’s presence would provide some encouragement and motivation for them to continue their fight against the disease.

“It is possible to see the joy on the faces of the children after receiving duit raya and gifts, and being entertained by us although we know that their pain and misery would linger on,” she said.

Also present at the event were the Community Network Director, USM BJIM, Tuan Syed Yusof Syed Kechik and Programme Coordinator, Dr. Darshan Singh.

See also said that USM is working with the hospital to introduce learning activities in the wards involving patients who have to stay in hospital for prolong periods.

“We are trying to gather USM student volunteers to come and teach, and provide useful knowledge to them as the patients are not able to go to school. We are in the process of making the preparation needed to run these learning activities,” she said.

Meanwhile, Darshan Singh expressed his gratitude to all those involved in organising the charity programme for the third time and hoped that it will continue in the future.

“The uniqueness of this programme is that, besides the donations, the patients were entertained with festive songs that signify the ushering of the Aidil Fitri celebration,” he said.

“Given that it has a positive impact as in previous years, we will try to maintain the programme for years to come.”

This year’s programme was coordinated by the Division of Industry and Community Network (BJIM) with Centre for Drug Research, Strategic Communications Office (SCOMM), the School of the Arts and Dewan Budaya. - Translation: Yong Check Yoon/Text and Photos: Mohd Azrul Mohd Azhar