Japanese grant for Syrian cancer society

In the context of Japan's grant assistance for grassroots projects, the Japanese embassy in Damascus has offered a grant estimated at US $79,500 to the Syrian Cancer Society.

With this grant, the Syrian society is to procure the following medical equipment for the establishment of the Outpatient Clinic for the Early Detection of Cancer in the society's hospital, al-Cham Hospital, which is under construction in the Mazzeh Jabal district of Damascus. The set is composed of: one basic radiography system (x-ray unit + buck stand) and one echography set automatic x-ray processor.

The aim of this project is to provide medical checkups for early detection of cancer not only for the people of Damascus, but the center is equipped to give medical services to inhabitants of the Damascus countryside and the central and northern part of Syria by opening an outpatient clinic in a special section of the society's hospital.

The clinic will offer periodical examinations and laboratory tests to detect cancer at an early stage, a matter which would enable patients to have a better chance for recovery (using x-rays it is possible to detect cancer two years before their symptoms appear).

The Syrian Cancer Society was established in 1964 to help cancer patients by providing them with certain medical services and to promote the early detection of cancer in Syria through encouraging the public to have periodical examinations.

The ceremony for the presentation of the list of equipment covered by this grant was held today at the society's headquarters, and the contract for this grant assistance was signed on March 19, at the Japanese Embassy in Damascus by the Japanese ambassador in Damascus and the center's chairman.