MoU signed between SKMCH&RC Peshawar and UNHCR

F.P. Report

PESHAWAR: A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and research Centre (SKMCH&RC), Peshawar.

The MOU signing ceremony was held in SKMCH&RC building, Peshawar where representative for the UN refugee commission in Pakistan, Ms. Ruvendrini Menikdiwela and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) SKMCH&RC, Dr. Faisal Sultan signed the document. Prominent members from SKMCH&RC and UNHCR were also present at the occasion which was also attended by members of the media.

As per this MoU, UNHCR will provide state-of-the-art cancer cure treatment machines to SKMCH&RC Peshawar. These include Linear Accelerators (High Energy), Varian Vital Beam, CT Simulator, 4D Toshiba Aquiline Machine, Varian ARIA 15 (Eclipse) Treatment Planning System and Peripherals (Immobilizations, PTW Dosimetry). The addition of these latest machines will give a boost to the hospital and increase its capacity to treat more patients on a daily basis.

The UN refugee agency will also provide software and training for the technicians to operate the high tech equipment.

The new cancer equipment is expected to benefit over 30,000 cancer patients every year and an estimated 1,500 cancer patients will be added every year.

The distinguished guests from UNHCR were taken on a visit of the hospital to different departments and laboratories upon their arrival. A briefing was also given to them about the latest treatment facilities being provided to the cancer patients in Peshawar.

Representative from UNHCR Ms. Ruvendrini Menikdiwela, who is visiting Pakistan for the first time expressed her satisfaction and happiness at the facilitates being offered at SKMCH&RC, Peshawar. She also spoke to a few patients during her visit to the hospital and lauded the work of the hospital as a symbol of hope for thousands of under privileged cancer patients in Pakistan, including Afghan refugees. She said that “she is here for the first time and very impressed to see state-of-the-art cancer equipment available at the hospital and the manner in which patients are being looked after. Treating those in real need and trying to save lives blighted by cancer is the noblest act of service to humanity.”

Talking about the MoU, she added that the “purpose of this MoU is to facilitate Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital in providing better care to poor cancer patients belonging to different areas of Pakistan.”

She said that this equipment from UNHCR is meant to provide treatment to the needy people belonging to different areas of Pakistan including Afghan refugees. She hoped that more and more people will benefit from the utilization of these machines. She appreciated the efforts of the Pakistan government in hosting a large number of refugees from neighboring country Afghanistan and the efforts of the hospital in their treatment.

Speaking on the occasion, CEO SKMCH&RC Dr. Faisal Sultan thanked UNHCR for their kind gesture and said that MoU is a step forward in providing better health facilities to the patients in their cancer treatment with the help of this latest technology equipment at a time when the Peshawar hospital is facing a rapid increase in the patient turn over.

He further said “Both local and International community should come forward and participate more in such humanitarian activities to play an important role in improving the health standards of the people.”

He showed his gratitude to the UNHCR in this behalf and hoped that “cooperation between UNHCR and SKMCH&RC will continue in the future as well as the aim of both the organizations is to serve the community at large.”