130 million USD cancer referral hospital to be constructed soon

05/10/08
    

President Girma Woldegiorgis on Saturday laid down a corner stone to a cancer referral hospital to be constructed at a cost of 130 million USD.
The hospital to be constructed in Sheno town, 80-km northeast of Addis, is the first of its kind to be built in Ethiopia.

Speaking on the occasion, President Girma said the benefit the hospital would give to Ethiopians in the sector is beyond expression.

Besides preventing cancer, which is causing a great health damage globally, the construction of the hospital would have a great contribution to upgrade the skills of professionals in the field.

The President urged all Ethiopians and its partners to help speed up the construction of the hospital.

Health Minister Dr.Tewodros Adhanom for his part said that medical treatment against cancer is being provided only in Black Lion hospital in Ethiopia .

Accordingly, he said the construction of the hospital would expand the service.

Wossene Bowler, Founder and Manager of the Life's Second Chance Foundation, said caner is affecting the lives of several people in Ethiopia.

The construction of the cancer treatment facility would help prevent the disease thereby transferring the very best cancer diagnostics and treatment skill to the coming generation, she said.

The construction of the hospital, which would be launched on 68 hectares of land, is expected to be completed in the next five years.

The hospital will have various facilities including 400 beds with an up-to-date equipment, research centre and medical professionals’ residential units.

While going fully operational, the hospital would cater services for 10,000 cancer patients in a year.

The Foundation is reported to coordinate the construction of the hospital.

ENA