There are 5,758 Colleges and Universities in the United States. That’s an average of more than 115 per state. Are you at one of them? If so, join the many student groups at campuses across the country for a competition and a cause. The competition… Who can be the first campus to raise $57,357? The Cause… giving the majority of children diagnosed with cancer in Egypt a chance to live. Children’s Cancer Hospital of Egypt 57357 (CCHE) has a five year survival rate of 80%. That’s on par with the U.S. and double Egypt’s cancer survival rate. All of their care is free and funded by private charitable donations. But only 1 out of 4 children’s can currently be treated at CCHE 57357 because there simply aren’t enough beds. We need your help to build an extension to this flagship hospital. If we don’t move fast, this will not happen because the hospital is at risk of losing the government donated land for the project if construction doesn’t begin within the coming months. We are turning to students because we know the power of your passion. If you can win a revolution, you can certainly expand a hospital! 25 million Egyptian students each donated 20 cents to Children’s Cancer Hospital of Egypt 57357, raising 5 Million dollars in a single day. We can do the same here in the U.S. Take the challenge. Email us at info@EgyptCancerNetwork.org to learn how.
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Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria and the 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.
“Food is the main cause in 30% of cancer incidences of different types” according to Dr. Sherif
Abouelnaga, Egypt Cancer Network’s Board member and Vice President of the Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt 57357. According to Dr. Abouelnaga, this is mainly due to the pollution caused by pesticides. He pinpointed also to other factors such as malnutrition in children. During his inaugural speech at the first conference on therapeutic nutrition in Egypt on September 24th, 2011, Dr. Abouelnaga added that the hospital will soon launch an advertising campaign to spread awareness with respect to healthy nutrition for children. Dr. Hussein Mansour, President of the Safe Food Organization says 29% of Egyptian children under the age of five suffer from dwarfism and 7% are underweight due to malnutrition. The Safe Food Organization, under the jurisdiction of the Prime Minister, will support legislation for the regulation and supervision of all food production to ensure consumer safety.
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Children’s Cancer Hospital of Egypt 57357 should be proud of their many firsts. They have led Egypt in a number of important clinical and technological areas. The hospital can now add to their growing list of accomplishments the1st conference in Egypt on therapeutic nutrition, which promoted healthy nutrition for cancer patients as well as ways to ensure safe diets for the prevention of diseases. The conference organizer, Clinical Nutritionist Association, presented six pivotal themes: therapeutic nutrition, general nutrition, microbiology in food products, environmental safety to ensure safe and healthy food, technology and nutrition. Next steps include an Arabic and English internet site with services and information for researchers in the nutrition field. Conference sponsors included: International Life Sciences Institute, BiotechCity, Quest Advanced Systems and technology House, Egyptian council for Therapeutical Nutrition and Nestle. A number of experts in the field, professors from Cairo, Ain Shams, Menoufia, and Helwan Universities, and members of the National Nutrition Institute all participated in the conference.
Other firsts for the hospital include:
- 1st specialized department of psychosocial oncology in Egypt
- 1st child life and school program in Egypt for hospitalized children
- 1st comprehensive physiotherapy department for oncology patients in Egypt
- 1st PET/CT scan in Egypt and cyclotron
- 1st fully digitized hospital in Egypt, including Medical Records (better than 95% of U.S. hospitals)
- 1st research department in Egypt with an Internal Review Board, Scientific Medical Advisory Committee, Central Research and Protocol M
- onitoring Office as well as 20 healthcare professionals who have developed into a new role of Clinical Research Associate
- 1st in Egypt to offer intensive continuing education program for staff
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Time and again, in the desire to transform and improve their communities, the youth in Egypt are reaching out to the icons of change for support and expertise. Nearly 250 members of the newly instituted “Academic Group” of Kasr Eil Aini Medical School were welcomed at Children’s Cancer Hospital of Egypt (CCHE) 57357 for a week of intensive training on topics ranging from pediatric oncology and research to Fundraising. This academic group was formed in the aftermath of the revolution as a reformation initiative for the medical training. Kasr Eil Aini strives to improve overall research and clinical skills by bridging the gap between students and professors.
The program at CCHE 57357 was more than a series of lectures. It was an opportunity to be acquainted with a new kind of healthcare system in Egypt. The hospital employs experiential learning as a way to engage future leaders. For example, half of the students attending the research workshop will continue to work closely with the hospital staff to develop research papers, which will be vetted by Harvard visiting scholars.
Here’s what the students had to say about this unique experience:
“Being within the walls of this great hospital serves as a reminder to never lose faith. Egyptians are capable of great accomplishments once they set their minds on achieving them. Everything is possible. One just has to seek the right opportunities or create them. Being here expanded not only my clinical interests, but also my understanding of the pursuit of excellence in quality care for all, and compassion by all.” — Heba Mahmoud (6th year medical student)
“I am impressed by CCHE 57357’s vision, benchmarking of standards, and continuous process improvement. I’m excited to be part of this team, which has taken my learning experience to new levels.” — Alaa Obeida (5th year medical student)
CCHE 57357’s approach with Kasr Eil Aini medical students is typical of their holistic approach to education and training. They are the first hospital in Egypt to offer a school program for their patients, an Internal Review Board for their researchers, full time employment for their physicians, free continuing education for their staff, and health & wellness campaigns for the public.
Way to go CCHE 57357. You rock!
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Loaded with gifts and toys, the spouse of the Turkish Prime Minister spent most of her visit with the children. Accompanied by the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Turkish Ambassador, they were warmly greeted by Egypt Cancer Network’s Board member, Mrs. Ola Ghabour. Mrs. Erdogen praised the hospital's staff for their compassion and concern. She was impressed by the state of the art technology and design as well as the hospital’s commitment to research. She was especially complimentary of the hospital’s tutor program with Egyptian Schools, which helps patients keep up their studies while undergoing cancer treatment. She even expressed a desire to establish a similar healthcare initiative in Turkey. Egypt Cancer Network is committed to helping CCHE 57357 expand their good work across the globe, particularly throughout the Middle East and North Africa.
"Never since NASA’s Apollo mission to the moon has the United States experienced such a galvanizing movement that resonated around the world" said Professor Farouk El-Baz, Egypt Cancer Network's Advisory Council member, who Life Magazine once wrote "mapped the moon." We were successful because there was clear unity, leadership, a purpose and a deadline. I support Children's Cancer Hospital of Egypt 57357 because it follows these same guiding principles, which ultimately led to mankind's historical moon landing."
- UNITY: 1500 volunteers, 570 physicians & nurses, 1000 employees, and millions of private donors, including 23 million children who donated one pound each.
- PURPOSE: Save lives by creating the world's largest free standing fully charitable free care pediatric cancer center on par with U.S. Survival rates
- TIMELINE: 10 years
- LEADERSHIP: By the people — For the people. 100% funded and sustained by individual, private donations.
Having met this first historical achievement, Children's Cancer Center Egypt 57357 is now facing new challenges. With the excitement of the revolution, comes the uncertainty of change. A couple of years ago, the Egyptian government donated CCHE 57357 land to double their patient population. Unfortunately, they have not yet raised the funds to build the building, and as such, are at risk of losing the land. Egypt Cancer Network 57357 has taken on this challenge by following the same guiding principles set forth by Professor Farouk El-Baz.
- UNITY: Egypt Cancer Network (Chicago), Egypt American Medical Society (New York), Physicians & Nurses at Harvard's Dana Farber Cancer Institute (Boston), Children's Cancer Center Egypt 57357 (Cairo), and volunteers in San Francisco, Dallas, Tampa, New Jersey, Florida, Los Angeles and Boston.
- PURPOSE: Double the number of lives saves by raising $57,357 for the hospital’s expansion project.
- TIMELINE: 57,357 minutes (40 days)
- LEADERSHIP: You! Egypt Cancer Network is run by volunteers, including our very active Board of Directors, Advisory Council and Medical Advisory Committee.
To more about Prof. El Baz, click here.
Adly is 16 years old. He comes from Al Kantara East, a town near Al Ismailia. His father is elderly and sick. His mother is barely earning their daily bread. Lately, life has not been treating Adly fairly, not only is he struggling with poverty, but also, he develops severe pain in his pharynx and a swelling in the neck. The pain is so strong and persistent that he seeks the specialists in Ismailia, who after running tests, strike him with the shocking news that he has cancer and advise him to seek treatment at hospital 57357 in Cairo.
The father is devastated but determined to do all what it takes to save his son's life. He travels with him to Cairo. Adly says of his first day in Cairo at Children’s Cancer Hospital (CCHE) 57357: "I never imagined a hospital could be so pleasant. The doctors gave me peace and comfort. The treatment quickly improved my general condition. My doctor, Dr. Lobna Shalabi, reassured my father that all services offered were free, including the meals. She said “All children admitted at hospital 57357, whether rich or poor, are treated equally as though they were all our own children."
CCHE 57357 doctors diagnosed Adly with Leukemia which is the most common cancer in children. Thanks to the dedication and vigilance of each member of the healthcare team (physician, nurse, pharmacist, clinical research associate, social worker) Adly is provided comprehensive care for both his treatment as well as any side effects, thus improving his outcome and increasing his chances of cure. The over-all survival rate at CCHE 57357 for Adly's type of Leukemia is 79.5%. CCHE 57357 is confident that they will be declaring the same cure rates achieved in the developed world as the hospital moves toward its fifth year of operation.
Within months of arriving in Cairo, Adly was given the good news by Dr. Shalabi that he had successfully completed his treatment. His care team encourages him to embrace his condition and teaches him how to cope so he can move towards complete recovery. Soon Adly becomes comfortable traveling by himself to and from Cairo for his regular follow-up appointments.
Having revisited the hospital for the past three years, Adly acknowledges “This hospital has become my second home and its staff is my second family. I really miss it as my visits are shorter and less frequent."
Adly is able to dream again. “The minute I will know that I am totally cured, I will look for a job to be of help to my parents. I am grateful to all the people who contributed for the establishment of the Hospital and who are working for its success. Without them, I would have been condemned. Because of them, I am confident I have a future.”
Adly's father quickly adds: "if I could only add twenty more floors to this building so that it could be able to treat increasing numbers of poor children! We did not believe that Adly could be saved but thanks to God Almighty and the competent and compassionate staff of the hospital, my son is well again.”
A number of late and living eminent religious personalities testify to the worthiness of the 57357 institution to receiving the Zakat of Muslims. All of them call upon charitable Muslims around the world to donate to hospital 57357, each one according to his or her means for the sake of providing care to the children wit cancer. "This blessed hospital is worthy to receive donations of all kinds, on-going charity, and Zakat", says the Egyptian Mufti, HE Sheikh Ali Gomaa. The ad features the following Men of Religion: Sheikh Nasr Farid Wassel, Former Mufti of Egypt, HE Sheikh Mohamed Sayed Tantawy, Late Al Azhar Head, HE Sheikh Ahmed Omar Hashem, Former Azhar University President, HE Late Sheikh Mohamed Almassir, Professor of Doctrine and philosophy, and Dr. Abla Al Kahlawy, Professor of Religious Law at Azhar University.
There should be no child without the chance for state of the art treatment. There should be no child without the same chance of cure as those in the West. There should be no child without the hope of many tomorrows.
Since beginning operations in 2007, the hospital received over 25% -30% of Egypt’s newly diagnosed pediatric cancer patients. Sadly they have to turn away four of five patients seeking care at their institutions simply because they do not have the capacity or space to accept everyone. To learn more about how the hospital is addressing this problem, click here.
