CAIRO // Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi has called for free treatment for children with cancer worldwide.
Sheikha Jawaher, wife of the Ruler of Sharjah, spoke during a visit to the Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt in Cairo, which is the largest paediatric cancer hospital in the Arab world.
She was attending the official opening of its new wing, named after her to honour her financial support towards treating children with the disease, the state news agency Wam reported.
“I have such hope when I see people and organisations who work tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of children with cancer,” said Sheikha Jawaher, an ambassador for the Union of International Cancer Control.
“More than 250,000 children a year suffer cancer, which leads to the deaths of 90,000 annually. Eighty per cent 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 able to detect and diagnose cancer early.”
Sheikha Jawaher is an Eminent Advocate at the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, with special focus on children. At the hospital she spoke to sick youngsters and refugees.
“We named the wing after Sheikha Jawaher in appreciation of her support for the hospital and children who are receiving treatment here,” said Dr Sherif El Naga, vice president of the hospital.
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