WHO Offers USD 1 mln to Provide Treatment for Syrian Children with Cancer

DAMASCUS, (ST)- The World Health Organization (WHO) has offered the University Children Hospital in Damascus a USD 1 million medical grant dedicated to providing treatment for children with cancer.

The grant was offered by a WHO delegation during their visit to the hospital on Sunday marking World Cancer Day.

Elizabeth Hoff, the WHO Representative in Syria, told SANA that the delegation’s visit aimed at being briefed on the situation of the services provided to children with cancer, pointing out that the organization is sparing no effort as to ensure an additional grant to provide treatment for cancer patients at hospitals in other Syrian provinces.

 “The organization supports the National Cancer Registry of the Health Ministry’s Cancer Control Department which follows up the current condition of patients in Syria in terms of infection, mortality and needs.

According to the National Cancer Registry, the number of people with cancer who receive treatment in Syria reaches some 140 thousand. 25 thousand new infection cases are registered every year, it said.

Mazen al-Haddad, the Hospital’s Director, said treatment of cancer cases is done according to the latest international treatment protocols.

Haddad, who noted that the Hospital receives about 7,000 children with cancer each year, pointing out that the development of methods of early detection of cancer has helped provide early treatment and save many lives.

Hamda Mustafa