President visits the MCCF Office at the Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre

Saturday, 15 July 2023, 07:34 Last update: about 11 months ago

President George Vella and Mrs Vella visited the Office of The Malta Community Chest Fund (MCCF) at the Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre (SAMOC).

During the visit, for which they were accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health Chris Fearne and the Chairman of the Board of Administrators of The Malta Community Chest Fund John Huber, the President and Mrs Vella were briefed about the service of providing natural hair wigs to patients.

President Vella thanked the MCCF workers and the SAMOC professionals for their dedication to cancer patients. With regards to the service of providing wigs, the President remarked that this is another service that alleviates some of the suffering endured by those who lose their hair due to cancer treatment and other medical conditions. The President praised and thanked all those choosing to donate their hair to the MCCF with the aim of improving the lives of these patients.

The MCCF started the service of providing wigs to cancer patients in November 2015. Last year, 80 patients benefited from such service, and, since the start of this year, it already provided 74 wigs.

Anyone with healthy hair, not shorter than 30 centimetres and not bleached can donate their hair for wigs. Hair must be cut dry and sent to the MCCF in kitchen paper or a paper bag together with the name and address of the donor. Ideally the hair is not sent braided. The hair is then cleaned, sorted according to colour, type and length by a professional hairdresser who is an expert in wigs, and sent abroad. This process takes about twelve to fifteen weeks.

In 2022, the MCCF received 814 hair donations and by June of this year more than 340 donations were made. The hair can be sent by post to The Malta Community Chest Fund, Office of the President, The Palace, Valletta, VLT 1115.

It can also be delivered personally to one of the offices of The Malta Community Chest Fund:

Valletta - 65, Old Mint Street (from Monday to Friday between 09:00 and 15:00) (Temporary office until the restoration project in the Presidential Palace is completed)
SAMOC - Level -1, Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre (Monday to Friday between 08:30 and 13:00)
Gozo - third floor, The Brokerage, Santa Marta Street, Victoria (from Monday to Friday between 15:00 and 18:00)