Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt 57357 Trains Two Ethiopian Pharmacists in Clinical Pharmacy

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ECN’s major partner, Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt 57357 (CCHE) committed to hosting Meti Ayele and Yohannes Alemayehu, both prominent pharmacists based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for a month-long training series pertaining to chemotherapy preparation. Both pharmacists were recommended to CCHE by the International Society of Oncology Pharmacy, noting the prime location of CCHE as well as its excellence in clinical pharmacy training.

The training was funded by the International Network for Cancer Treatment and Research (INCTR). Ms. Ayele and Mr. Alemayehu have both graduated from pharmacy school and are in the midst of working on their respective post-graduate degrees. Both are employees of Black Lion Hospital, located in Addis Ababa and known as Ethiopia’s only cancer referral center. This institution aspires to become a center of excellence comparable to CCHE in Ethiopia and solicits the support of several Ethiopian governmental institutions, many non-governmental organizations and international partners, and universities, including Georgetown University.

For Mr. Ayele, she was particularly thrilled to have had training in the application of benchmark practices concerning chemotherapy preparation and distribution. She gave much praise to the hospitals success in monitoring the effects of medication on the patients as well as the attention paid to documenting each case and educating the families of patients about the disease and its treatment. Also noted was the efficiency in communication amongst staff as to the progress and treatment of the patients.

Similarly, Mr. Alemayehu expressed his deep gratitude for his experience and stated that he promised that CCHE would not be disappointed with their renovated commitment to healthcare in Ethiopia, based on their thorough experience in the care of the clinical pharmacy department at CCHE.

Both ECN and CCHE share the principle of promoting oncology education initiatives as a means of distinguishing themselves as a center of excellence. In promoting regional education initiatives of this nature, CCHE, in collaboration with its trainees and partners, will continue to improve the cancer survival rates and treatment tactics in Egypt and beyond.

 

At this time five years ago, in October 2005, a 40-day old baby named Sagdah was admitted to the patient care ward at CCHE 57357.

At the tender age of just 25 days, Sagdah and her mother left their native country of Libya on a harrowing journey to Egypt. What they sought was a cure for Sagdah’s ailments from a disease they could not specify, which included an inflated belly, kidney failure and perpetual vomiting. Upon arrival, Sagdah’s mother found that no hospital would accept them, with one hospital attendant going so far as to say, “we will not accept a patient who is just going to die”.

This, said Sagdah’s mother, did not waver her faith. Upon seeking the help of private clinics, she was told about Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt 57357 (CCHE).

Upon arrival at CCHE, Sagdah was accepted right away despite the fact that she was not Egyptian and despite the low hospital capacity for patients at the time. Sagdah’s mother soon realized that Sagdah was receiving the best possible care in the safe hands of CCHE’s doctors and staff.

While at CCHE Sagdah was supported by Ms. Azzah, the social worker, and was invited to stay in the on-site guest house since their arrival. Sagdah was provided with milk, diapers, medicines and treatment, all free of charge.

Sagdah’s road to recovery was not easy, though. It was determined by CCHE doctors that Sagdah had a large tumor growing between her bladder and her rectum, which was the source of the kidney failure. After several doses of chemotherapy Sagdah was able to function normally, and after over 9 months of continual chemotherapy, Sagdah’s tumor essentially disappeared.

As of her fifth birthday, on September 9th, 2012, young Sagdah was cured of her tumor and was only awaiting surgery to remove the remnants of the disease which almost took away her precious life. Thanks to the efforts of the physicians and staff at CCHE, Sagdah was not only given a second chance at life, but her family was also given the chance to enjoy their daughter. She celebrated her fifth birthday and her new, cancer-free existence in the auditorium with her friends and many supporters.