Feed a Cancer Patient

Allah Almighty will say on the Day of Resurrection: “O son of Adam, I asked you for food but you did not feed Me. He will say: My Lord, how can I feed You when You are the Lord of the worlds? Allah will say: Did you not know that My servant asked you for food but you did not feed him, and had you fed him you would have found Me with him?” (Muslim)

Most patients who qualify for free cancer care at Shaukat Khanum Hospital are undernourished, even before they begin cancer treatment.

The rewards for feeding the fasting are immense. But you can do one better this year by providing food for one of our patients. Many of our patients can’t fast; poverty has left them malnourished and in desperate need of a warm meal. For them to have a fighting chance at recovery, we need to strengthen their bodies with the essential vitamins and nutrients they need to beat cancer. Can you help us feed them this year?

A small Sadaqah of £5 provides two hospital meals for a day. Can you share your food by giving £5 for every meal you have in a month?

FEED PATIENTS WITH YOUR FIDYAH, KAFFARAH AND FITRANA

Did you know that we use your Fidyah, Kaffarah and Fitrana to feed needy cancer patients at Shaukat Khanum Hospital?

If you are unable to fast and need to pay Fidyah or even Kaffarah, IKCA can help. Fidyah and Kaffarah can only go towards feeding the poor and that’s what we use your payments for. Fitrana is similar but time-sensitive, so be sure to pay yours before Eid every year.

WHY FEED A CANCER PATIENT?

Rashidah Javid, a Clinical Nutritionist at Shaukat Khanum Hospital, explains the importance of nutrition for cancer patients.

Many of our patients travel long distances to come to our hospitals and face financial difficulty in a big city that is strange to them. Most are too poor to afford food.

Cancer patients need strength because often they aren’t just fighting cancer, they’re also fighting the side effects of chemotherapy and other treatments. Getting the right food and supplements is essential for preventing and managing additional problems like:

• Anaemia
• Infections (caused by a compromised immune system)
• Bruising and bleeding
• Fatigue
• Hair loss
• Diarrhoea and constipation
• Sore mouth
• Affected sleep
• Nausea and being sick

The last symptom is very common; many of our patients suffer from a loss of appetite and even have trouble keeping down their food. They may need to be drip-fed and given the supplements, they require intravenously.

Imagine having to face all this at once. By choosing to donate a meal, you are helping us meet the special dietary needs of cancer patients at our hospitals, giving them the strength and energy they need to fight cancer.

A PERSONALISED DIETARY PLAN FOR EACH PATIENT

At Shaukat Khanum Hospital, we create a personalised dietary plan for each patient, ensuring they get exactly the right nutrients in the right way at the right juncture of their treatment. With every patient reacting differently to treatment, it’s vital to ensure each receives a plan tailored to their needs.

Shaukat Khanum Hospital is Pakistan’s first hospital to receive the HACCP certification, an internationally renowned food safety standard accreditation. By helping us feed our patients, you aren’t just providing a day’s worth of sustenance, you’re paving the way to recovery, one meal at a time.