Pope Shenouda III donates US$17,000 Prize to Egypts Childrens Cancer Hospital

Childrens Cancer Hospital Foundation Opened July 2007

By: Pamela
2/10/2011
Special Courtesy: Assad Elepty

Patriarch of All Africa on the Holy Apostolic See of Saint Mark the Evangelist of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria,
was awarded by the city of Augsburg, Germany their Peace Prize for his commitment to ecumenism and leadership in inter-denominational dialogue, including relations between Muslims and Christians in Egypt.

The prize will be officially delivered to His Holiness by a senior and prominent member of the Anglican Church, Wolfgang Huber, within a large celebration taking place on the 10th of December in the golden hall of the city’s town hall.

The Pope in turn will be donating his award of nearly US$17,000 to Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt 57357. Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt (CCHE) 57357 is the largest freestanding pediatric cancer hospital in the world. It was built and is being sustained completely by donations. In operation since July, 2007, it has quickly become recognized as a leader in providing a new level of quality healthcare in Egypt which is world class and where are all children are treated free of charge without discrimination to race, creed or ability to pay.

Despite being the largest free standing pediatric cancer hospital in the world, CCHE has been at 99% capacity since beginning operation. With 187 beds, they only meet the needs of 1 out of every 4 Egyptian children newly diagnosed with cancer. CCHE must expand to adequately meet the need for world class care. Their expansion project will allow the hospital to serve 75% of children newly diagnosed with cancer in Egypt. With a 5-year survival rate of 79%, compared to the Egyptian average of 40%, significantly more lives can be saved. The 250 bed expansion will be designed using the latest technology for green, solar power and waste and water management. CCHE will add a unit for brain tumor patients which is the second most common pediatric malignancy making CCHE a regional center of excellence. This unit will have 6 highly specialized operating rooms, intensive care and patient unit. An estimated 5000 people of all skill levels (primarily youth) will be employed in the construction phase. 120 Egyptian and international companies will be contracted and 2000 healthcare professionals and support staff will be hired and trained.

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