Words of heartfelt gratitude are in order to Mr. Mohamed Elaadma, an Egyptian American Pharmacist and to Egypt Cancer Network, the U.S. based non- for profit 501C3 fundraising network for Egypt’s cancer patients, for their collaborative effort at securing and financing a six month supply of MERCAPTOPURINE for Hospital 57357’s Leukemia patients.
Earlier this week, Hospital 57357 was in distress due to the threat of a severe shortage of a vital drug given to its acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients. (ALL) is the most common malignancy diagnosed in children, representing nearly one third of all pediatric cancers. ALL patients at Hospital 57357 number 1,000 and will spend three years during their treatment period taking a daily dose of 50 to 75mg. The first 4 -6 weeks of treatment of ALL patients consist of destroying the malignant cells in the bone marrow and in the process devastate the body’s immune system. At the start of the third week, and for a period of three years onwards, the patient is administered MERCAPTOPURINE which will slowly restore to the body a healthy bone marrow and kill any emerging malignant cells that could appear after the initial treatment period.
Needless to explain, any interruption in the intake of this drug would endanger the success of the patient’s treatment plan and his chances for cure. As Egypt is experiencing unexpected shortages in some pharmaceutical products, the hospital administration sent a distress signal last week to its friends and supporters abroad being unable to replenish its stock of the above mentioned drug from the local market to secure its patients’ needs.
Immediately, a solidarity chain linking Pharmacist Mohamad Elaadma, Egypt Cancer Network board members, Egyptian Embassy and the Consulate in New York came to the rescue sending the first batch of a supply of Mercaptopurine that would cover the Hospital needs for the coming six months as well as an additional quantity for patients of the National Cancer Institute.
In a record time, Pharmacist Elaadma was able to gather the required quantities, ECN board members driven by Dr. Abdel Dayem to take the decision to fund the required drug supply, and the Egyptian Embassy and the Consulate in N.Y to secure its transportation to Cairo.
Hospital 57357, which regards cure as its ultimate goal in the provision of quality comprehensive care to its patients, is thankful to all its partners and supporters who believe in the worthiness of going the extra mile to safeguard and sustain its mission in the face of unexpected challenges. This mission, they are convinced, is consistently upheld through its adoption of the latest technology and evidence based practices by a dedicated professional disease- focused team.
