jordan pulse -

Today, Queen Rania Al Abdullah visited the King Hussein Cancer Center to review the center's achievements and progress during the reign of King Abdullah II on the occasion of its silver jubilee. She inaugurated the new radiotherapy building, equipped with the latest global standards, in the presence of Prince Talal bin Muhammad, the King’s Special Advisor, and Princess Ghida Talal, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the King Hussein Cancer Foundation and Center.

The new radiotherapy building, covering 2,710 square meters, aims to meet the increasing needs of patients efficiently and swiftly. About 60% of the center’s patients require radiotherapy as part of their treatment plan. With the new building, the capacity in the radiotherapy department will increase from 260 to about 400 patients per month. The building features medical devices used for the first time in Jordan and the Arab region, including the MR LINAC linear accelerator.

In her speech, Princess Ghida said, "After a quarter of a century, the King Hussein Cancer Center has become a cornerstone of cancer treatment in our region, serving over seventy thousand patients. We hope to have fulfilled our promise to the King and Queen, and we thank you for your love, humanity, and unwavering support, which has significantly contributed to these Jordanian achievements."

Queen Rania toured several sections of the center, including the brain and neurosurgery operating room, the first of its kind in Jordan, which has conducted approximately 302 operations since its opening in 2019. The room is equipped with an advanced navigation system that allows precise tumor removal while preserving adjacent healthy tissues. The navigation system also enables the patient to be transferred to an MRI machine during surgery for immediate evaluation based on MRI images, ensuring more accurate results.

She also visited the pediatric department, which comprises three floors equipped with the latest standards, catering to about 90% of children with cancer in Jordan, achieving high cure rates of up to 80%. The center pays special attention to the psychological and academic care of children through playrooms, the Heroes' Cave, and academic support programs that allow them to continue their studies while undergoing treatment.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Prince Hussein bin Talal, Prince Muhammad bin Talal, Princess Rajaa bint Talal, Prime Minister Dr. Bisher Khasawneh, Royal Court Chief Yousef Al-Isawi, Minister of Education and Higher Education and Scientific Research Dr. Azmi Mahafzah, Minister of Health Dr. Feras Al-Hawari, members of the Board of Trustees of the King Hussein Cancer Center, CEO and Director-General of the King Hussein Cancer Center Dr. Asem Mansour, and Director-General of the King Hussein Cancer Center Mrs. Nisreen Qatamish.

The King Hussein Cancer Center covers an area of 108,700 square meters and consists of three main buildings: the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Building, the Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Building, and the Nizar Naqib Building. It includes 13 operating rooms, 36 intensive care units, and 352 beds.

The center receives approximately 7,000 new patients annually, with about 14,000 admissions per year, and the outpatient clinics receive around 250,000 visits annually. The medical staff comprises over 400 doctors and oncology consultants, 1,100 oncology nurses, 1,500 administrative and technical staff, and about 100 qualified pharmacists for preparing oncology medications.

The center also includes several important facilities, such as the first public cord blood bank, the Khalid Shoman Educational Center, intensive care units for children and adults, diagnostic and therapeutic radiology departments, a cellular therapy and applied genomics department, and a bone marrow transplant program.