December 7, 2011
A newly built child cancer care section at the National Cancer Research Center, an effort funded by Mehr Nuri Foundation, “In the Name of Life” National Breast Cancer Association and the Women`s Council, was inaugurated on December 7 in Tashkent. The brand new facility, which has been fitted with up-to-date equipment, is able to take in twice as many children as before, for therapies and surgeries.
The inauguration was attended by members of the NCRC, representatives of the Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan, doctors and journalists. Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the main entrance to the new brick building, which took roughly half a year to complete, those gathered were invited to view the light and roomy wards in the facility.
The child cancer care section of the National Cancer Research Center was launched in February 2001. Staffed by 29 people, among them 6 doctors, 12 nurses and 9 assistants, it is one of Central Asia`s leading child cancer care facilities. In Uzbekistan it is the only facility that diagnoses and treats malignant tumors in children. In addition, the section has set up permanent ties with Russia`s Blokhin Cancer Research Center.
The reconstructed two-storied child health care section is now able to house 50 patients and meets modern sanitation and hygiene standards. It now boasts conditions for highly qualified treatment of children in psychologically comfortable environments (play rooms, training rooms, etc.) as well as modern equipment for a surgery section and intensive care ward.
Before the reconstruction the section was designed to house 25 patients at a time and was located in a building of old-fashioned design, and did not meet sanitary and hygiene norms. The number of children in need of specialist treatment increases every year: from 663 patients in 2009 to 760 in 2010. The lack of beds at the section resulted in long waiting lists which led to temporary hospitalization at other sections at the NCRC. Also, the section did not have a surgery department and intensive care wards.
Related links
First Universal Cultural Center launched in Namangan