Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) will assist Child Aid Association (CAA) in construction of a separate building for cancer treatment in the premises of National Institute of Child Health (NICH). KCCI President, Mian Abrar Ahmed announced on Wednesday inaugurating the "Cancer Prevention and Awareness Programme for Children," launched by CAA, an NGO working for treatment and rehabilitation of child cancer patients visiting and admitted to NICH.
The building to be completed against an estimated cost of Rs 300 million will be particularly dedicated for children suffering from blood cancers and are in need of bone marrow transplantation. Mian Abrar on the occasion said the KCCI has also procured land for construction of a university with due provision for health and medical care training programmes for youth.
"Our focus will be to provide hi-tech education and training facilities to local youth on absolute basis of merit," said the KCCI President. Appreciative of awareness campaign launched by CAA, he said its scope must be expanded to rural as well as remotest parts of the country contributing a significant number of cancer cases with no treatment facilities.
Professor Nizam-ul-Hasan, President, Child Aid Association said the NGO working for sick children since 1979 decided to set up the country's first Paediatric Oncology unit at the NICH in 1997. "The project completed in 1999 with the support of philanthropists is providing 100 percent free of cost treatment to the children," he said.
Professor Nizam ul Hasan, a senior paediatrician and the first director of NICH said over 550 cancer patients have been treated since 1999 with over 50 percent full recovery rate. "Major problem is poor hygienic conditions and high infection rates that severely compromise cure rates among children suffering from cancer," he said.-PR
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