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MTN And UNDP To Establish Syria’s First Cancer Research Centre
Published Aug 5, 2009
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MTN has signed a Cost Sharing Agreement with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the State Planning Commission that will facilitate the establishment of the first cancer research centre in Syria.
The partnership forms part of the UN Global Compact*, a strategic platform that allows participants to advance their commitments to sustainability and corporate citizenship through public private initiatives.
The envisaged facility, to be called the MTN Cancer Research Centre, will help address Syria’s health sector needs by providing registered information and database surrounding cancer cases around the country.
The centre will be equipped with state of the art technology to facilitate diagnosing cancer cases and early intervention among men, women and children.
In addition, the centre will assist in determining causes, assessing frequency, and ascertaining geographical distribution of the disease.
It is expected to serve as a national resource that will comprise of epidemiological study, clinical research, and prevention and cessation intervention development.
Mr. Ismail Jaroudi, MTN Syria CEO, said MTN believes in serving the community within which it operates by supporting initiatives that address national needs and concerns.
“Cancer has always been a global concern responsible for 13% of deaths in 2008 alone. This partnership with the UNDP provides MTN with an excellent opportunity to improve the entire approach towards cancer in Syria. This is an effort we are proud to be associated with”.
The MTN Cancer Research Centre will be based at selected hospitals selected by the project partners in Syria. For its part, MTN will contribute USD 500,000 over five years to finance the facility.
Said Mr. Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmad, UNDP Resident Representative: “The lack of statistics and information surrounding cancer in Syria has created an obvious difficulty in setting a national action plan, dealing with the various cases of infection, organising the clinical database, determining causes, frequency and geographical distribution".
“We are hopeful this collaboration of efforts will make an outstanding difference and a significant push towards arming the country with the information required, medical expertise and enough resources to control the epidemic and diminish its spread,” said Ahmad.
The MTN Cancer Research Centre will provide training for physicians and nursing staff, communication and patient care nursing courses and public awareness information.
Once accomplished, the centre will provide the country with its first cancer cases map that covers cancer distribution, types and number of cases across Syria.
UNDP’s major role is to support the project by coordinating the activities with the UN Global Compact Project team and to ensure effectual participation of all parties to come out with required results.
It will also be responsible of managing funds and inputs, planning the centre’s activities and to report the project’s progress and achievements to the project board.
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