In the last week of October, the Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre at Mater Dei Hospital, together with Lippu Zammit (a volunteer), organised a week of beauty treatments for patients within its wards. With the help of a number of volunteering therapists, the centre managed to reach a good number of patients receiving active treatment in all wards.

This came about after Zammit approached the centre with the idea of creating an event for breast cancer awareness month. Given that the centre meets different types of cancer patients, it was agreed to include all patients, not only breast cancer ones.

Zammit was eager about this idea and immediately agreed. A number of sponsors were contacted by his good self and he also managed to get gifts (make-up, cleansers, etc.) which patients were given after treatment as a token.

Furthermore, the centre, again together with Zammit, created a beauty workshop for patients who were not admitted during that week. It organised two separate make-up workshops. During these workshops, make-up artists helped patients with their individual need in applying make-up. Gifts, and hand-made pouches were again given to the patients after the workshops.

Positive feedback was received from patients from both events, saying they felt pampered and well-taken care of. “Seeing the smiles of the patients gives us that extra bit of energy to be able to carry on with more events like this one, events which go far beyond the medical aspect,” said Abigail Camenzuli, practice nurse, chemotherapy.