EGYPT: The first highly specialised children's cancer hospital recently opened in Cairo

The recent opening in Cairo of a world class cancer hospital for children, the largest of its kind in the world, is considered to be a great achievement in Egypt, where providing quality health care for the public is a challenge the government struggles to meet. Nearly a decade in the making, the 57357 Cancer Hospital for Children, with its huge glass dome and sleek, ultra-modern design standing out starkly against the weather-beaten minarets of old Cairo's Sayyeda Zeinab neighbourhood, opened last week for a trial period, Named after the charity telephone hotline on television adverts that supplied the majority of its financing, the hospital is staffed by some of Egypt's best cancer specialists and is equipped with the most advanced medical technology available. And in a country where even the relatively inexpensive cost of health care is prohibitive to many, patients at 57357 don't pay a single pound for their treatment. The hospital has also been funded, however, by donations from USAID as well as donations from Europe and the Gulf and private Egyptian institutions like the Bank of Alexandria. Hospital director Dr. Sharif Aboul Naga says that what makes the hospital unique is its philosophy on dealing with patients. "The services offered in this hospital are mad up of the machines, and the space, the view and good atmosphere but above all, the patient and their family are treated like royalty- that is our aim," he said. In many other hospitals in Egypt, over-crowding means that cancer patients, who often have weak immune systems and are susceptible to infection, have to share rooms with several other patients - increasing the dangers of infection. But in 57357, which has 185 beds, most of the children who are admitted will have their own rooms. The first patient admitted to the hospital was a boy named Sherif. Sherif's father says that his son is fortunate to be able to benefit from first class care. "Thank God the establishment of this hospital coincided with my son getting sick. This is something which is very good for the country and I hope that it will be repeated in different places in Egypt and in more than one specialisation, because this is something that makes the whole country proud," said Mubarak, his father. The new hospital will also have 12 intensive care units and will be able to treat 250 outpatients every day. Sherif says the way the highly-trained staff dealt with him quickly put him at ease. "I was afraid in the beginning, but after I was admitted and I'd dealt with people, I felt better," he said. One of the major innovations of 57357 is its focus on creating an environment suitable for the children that it cares for. That hospital takes a holistic approach to preparing children for the traumatic experience of living with cancer - from creating a physical environment that is colourful and child-friendly, to keeping having staff psychologists to help them accept and hopefully overcome their illness. The hospital's designers are attempting to minimize the shock that the change of environment from home and family causes for its young patients. Each of the hospital's floors is painted a different colour, with themes such as blue for the imagination and green for safari, and there is also a toy room for the kids to play in - a rarity in Egypt. What is also unique about 57357 is the high-quality medical technology available to the staff. The entire process of patient care is computerized, another rarity in Egypt, with everything from patient records to prescriptions handled electronically. In addition, the hospital has sophisticated laboratories and includes its own air purifying system and blood and plasma bank. Staff psychologist Dr. Abdullah, says the hospital tries to make an inevitably difficult experience a little easier for the children by decorating the building in bright vibrant colours, hanging paintings on the walls and providing toys for all ages. The new hospital prides itself on its innovative management policy, with a heavy emphasis on individualised care and focus on the needs of the patient. A Canadian management company has been tasked with training the staff and making sure that everyone, from doctors, to technicians and lift operators, work towards the same goal. "And what we are trying to create is, within the hospital, a culture of learning and a culture of quality first so that we end up with a result of a great place to work for the people that work here, but more importantly a better experience for the patients and their families that come here, resulting in improved outcomes in terms of actual management of their disease," says Cindy Mastromattei of Comprehensive Care International. The hospital has attracted some controversy because it accepts only new patients, and not those who have already been treated in other hospitals. The hospital management says the reason for this is because every hospital has its own treatment protocols that cannot be changed mid-care for cancer sufferers in particular. The management of 57357 also believes that its work will help other institutions that treat children with cancer in Egypt, who will have their patient loads lessened. There is little doubt that hospital 57357 is an ambitious project and a unique achievement for Egypt - a top tier medical institution that provides free health care for the most vulnerable in society.

ITN Source | July 24, 2007

Tags:. .afraid. .telephone. .colours. .colourful. .cindy