Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of the Ruler of Sharjah, Founder and Royal Patron of the Friends of Cancer Patients Society (FoCP), the International Ambassador of the World Cancer Declaration for Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), and International Ambassador for Childhood Cancer for UICC, has called for providing free treatment, healthcare and psychological support to all children worldwide.

The call came when Sheikha Jawaher visited Children's Cancer Hospital Egypt (CCHE 57357) in Cairo, the largest paediatric cancer hospital in the Arab region, and attended the opening ceremony of a new wing named after her. The hospital wing was named Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi in recognition of her generosity in providing financial support for the treatment of children with cancer. A banner displayed the name of Sheikha Jawaher and her saying to children with cancer, "You are the hero of your story, and you will always be in my heart."

Dr. Hani Hussein, CEO of Children Cancer Hospital Egypt 57357, Dr. Sherif Abou El-Naga, Vice President of the Hospital, and a number of officials and medical team met Sheikha Jawaher, who were accompanied by Ameera BinKaram, President of Board of Trustees and a founding member of FoCP, Noura Al Noman, Director of the Executive Office of H.H. Sheikha Jawaher, and Noha Safar, board member of FoCP.

Sheikha Jawaher called for joint action to protect children against the physical and psychological pain of cancer, stressing that healthcare is an essential right of children in order to lead normal lives and to be pain free. "I have such hope when I see that there are people and organisations who work tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of children with cancer. More than 250,000 children a year suffer from cancer which leads to the death of 90,000 annually, 80 percent live in poor and middle-income countries. These figures require governments and people to help save the lives of innocent children, through the provision of scientific research, medical equipment and human cadres that are able to detect and diagnose cancer early, and provide medical treatment and psychological support to children and their parents to help them overcome this ordeal," she said.

Sheikha Jawaher visited a number of sick children at the hospital, and a number of refugee children who were receiving treatment there. She told them that she will stop at nothing to mobilise Arab and international support to protect them and help them until they recover and can carry on leading a normal life.

She listened to a detailed presentation on the five-year expansion plan set by the hospital to increase its capacity of beds, and to set up a childhood cancer research and study centre.

Sheikha Jawaher reaffirmed her on-going support for the hospital and her efforts to mobilise the Arab and international support to continue to provide treatment to the children of Egypt and other countries in the region.

Dr. Sherif Abou El Naga said, "We named one of the hospital's wings after H.H. Sheikha Jawaher in appreciation of her support for the hospital and children who are receiving treatment here, and her international contributions that reflect her personal interest in this humanitarian issue and her sympathy for cancer patients."

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics, approximately 80% of children with cancer are living in developing countries. Sheikha Jawaher therefore stressed the need to develop common international strategies to protect the lives of hundreds of thousands of children with cancer around the world, and curb the negative effects of the disease on children, their families and society as a whole.
Source: WAM