A+ A-

UAE to launch 1st proton therapy ctr in Mideast

ABU DHABI, Dec 9 (KUNA) -- UAE's Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan Humanitarian and Scientific Foundation announced Friday a plan to launch the first center in the Middle East and Asia to use proton, new form of radiotherapy, in the treatment of cancer.
The center, costing USD 60 million, will be built in Al-Shahama neighborhood in Abu Dhabi; it will receive nearly 1,300 cancer patients from within and outside the United Arab Emirates annually starting from late 2018, according to a press release by the Foundation.
A partnership deal to build the center was struck by the UK-based Proton Co., Kuwait's Al-Sayer Group Holding and the UAE Al-Fardan Group, said board chairman of Abu Dhabi proton center Dr. Mahdi Al-Fardan.
The revenues of the planned center will be partially used in charitable activities and the researches relating to cancer treatment inside the UAE and the Arab region, he pointed out.
The Foundation is mulling a project to launch a marrow transplant center in the UAE, Al-Fardan said, noting that the Foundation launched two centers for treating the thalassemia patients.
The Regional Collaborating Office of Thalassemia International Federation (RCOTIF) - a joint venture between Thalassemia International Federation (TIF) and Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan Humanitarian and Scientific Foundation, helps improve the quality of life of thalassemia patients in the countries of the region, including Yemen and Morocco.
Its services span across the Eastern Mediterranean Region and Africa, Dr. Al-Fardan went on.
The priorities of coverage are guided the decisions of the TIF Board and the willingness of the countries in the region to actively participate, as well as the political stability within those selected countries, he added.
Meanwhile, Musa'ed Al-Sayer, board chairman of Al-Sayer Group, affirmed the keenness of his group to take part in the medical research activities and the innovative treatment methods which impact positively on the community.
Proton therapy is considered the world's latest and most effective method of cancer treatment, he said, noting that the side effects of this treatment are far lower than traditional techniques.
The proton beam therapy, is a type of radiation treatment that uses proton, a positively charged particle, rather than x-rays to treat cancer.
At high energy, protons can destroy cancer cells. Doctors may use proton therapy alone, or they may combine it with standard radiation therapy, surgery, chemotherapy, and/or immunotherapy.
The Abu Dhabi proton center will have a world-renowned medial team, including Dr. Carol Sequeira and more than 100 medical and technical staffers. (end) bsu.gb