History

One day, the pediatric oncology physician responsible for the children’s ward at Egypt’s National Cancer Institute (NCI), Dr. Sherif Abouelnaga, witnessed the passing away of 13 young children out of 16 in the ward. This was in the early 80s, when the survival rate for cancer in North America was around 65-70%, and physicians and scientists were beginning to believe that cancer in children could be conquered.

In Egypt, after years of war and poverty, the economy began to flourish, communicable diseases were coming under control due to the increased availability of medicine and medical supplies, and consequently, the medical community started to concentrate its efforts on life-threatening diseases such as cancer. During the late 70s, the pediatric oncology specialty was established in Egypt at the National Cancer Institute.

Devastated by what was happening to their young children with cancer, the group of pediatric oncology physicians at the NCI, headed by Dr. Abouelnaga, vowed before Allah that they would change the precarious conditions of their single pediatric oncology ward. At that time, they lacked the resources, the up-to-date methods and equipment, and the adequate safe environment that would enable them to overcome this hopelessness and achieve the results of the West for Egypt’s children with cancer.

First, they thought of soliciting support from religious leadership. They managed to meet with well–known and much-loved Sheikh el Sharawy, who incidentally was in the company of Mr. Abdullah Sallam, founder of Olympic Electric, Mr. Abou Shakra, owner of a restaurant chain, and Mr. Ahmed Abdul Tayma, former Minister of Religious Affairs and one of the original group of the 1952 Revolutionary Council. Each pledged 50 LE per month to provide monetary support for developing a sound pediatric oncology care program at the NCI. Although all group members are now deceased, their families have carried on the commitment, believing in the value of the endeavor.

Over the next 10 years, compassionate and generous donors who believed that change was necessary helped these physicians to create a flourishing pediatric oncology program that went from a 1 room ward of 8 beds and a tiny outpatient clinic to a 120-bed department and a modern outpatient clinic that saw 150 patients a day and received 1200 new cases yearly.

Innovations such as the first Clinical Pharmacy in Egypt, the first coordinated volunteer blood donor program were initiated at the NCI. Virology, microbiology, and cytogenetics labs were funded for the pediatric oncology program to provide an improved diagnostic service. The improved services and expertise improved survival rates causing the demand to become greater and the allocated space for the children population at the NCI to become over crowded.

As physicians and families began to see the hope of a cure, they began to press for improved conditions. The physicians continued to work towards achieving a high standard of care and facilities for their patients. Media personalities Amal Fahmy and Tarek Allam joined the cause. They were avid spokespersons for the program to explain the need to the public and help them realize cancer-related issues. A group of businessmen offered to give 250,000 LE to help in some way but were convinced to use this money to conduct the first national fundraising campaign. It was so successful that it raised public awareness of these patients’ conditions and prompted the government to establish 10 regional cancer centers.

It was at this time, with the physicians striving for continuous improvement; that the seed of the idea of a state of the art hospital for children with cancer took root. Professor Dr. Mohamed Reda Hamza, Dean of the National Cancer Institute in 1995 sought for space to expand the existing NCI for children but finally encouraged Dr. Sherif Abouel Naga to consider building a separate hospital for children with cancer that would be instrumental in catering to the rising needs of the children with cancer and in improving their survival rates for children.

For their good work, four well-known women in the Egyptian community were eager to collaborate with Dr. Abouelnaga to spearhead the drive to build the hospital. Former Secretary General of the 57357 Foundation and co-founder of the Hospital, the late Mrs. Ola Ghabbour, Mrs. Sohair Farghaly, Mrs. Fakreya Abdel Hamid, Mrs. Somaya Abouelenein, and businessman Eng. Hossam El Kabbani met with Dr. Mofid Shehab, then President of Cairo University, and gained approval to build a children’s cancer hospital.

This hospital would be built by donation and would be available for all children with cancer regardless of creed, race, or ability to pay, and so the process began. The group raised 8 million LE in seed money from pledges from prominent businessmen and citizens to start the project.

Dr. Ahmed Fathy Sorour, Speaker of Parliament was approached to assist in the process of obtaining land nearby the NCI.