Cancer treatment: UNHCR provides equipment

Recognises Pakistan’s services for hosting Afghan refugees

PESHAWAR: United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has provided high-tech medical equipment to Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital (SKCMH) recognizing Pakistan’s services for hosting Afghan refugees for decades besides supporting free-of-cost treatment needy cancer patients including Afghan refugees.

The equipment will benefit over 30,000 patients annually besides 1,500 new patients added every year. Apart from Pakistanis, Afghan refugees (with Pakistan Origin Card), Afghan nationals (after having obtained visa), are also provided free of cost treatment against different kinds of cancer.

According to SKMCH Chief Executive Officer Dr Faisal Sultan, dozens of patients were being offered free of cost services at the facility besides around 60 patients visited the facility every month and got benefits of the free of cost treatment.



Sultan added that there was no exact figure as to how many patients have benefited but added medical assistance was extended to every human regardless of social status and nationality.

UNHCR representative Revendrini Menikdiwela stated she was impressed the way Pakistan hosted Afghan refugees for over four decades.

Menikdiwela appreciated the people and government of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa for hosting Afghan refugees in the spirit of Islamic values of hospitality and generosity for decades. Earlier, Menikdiwela and Sultan signed a Memorandum of Understanding in the provincial capital on Wednesday.



The UN refugee agency will provide radiotherapy machines, software and training for the technicians to operate the equipment. Radiotherapy uses high-energy radiation to break down cancer cells and treat tumors in the body. The machines will be installed in the newly constructed hospital rooms by mid-summer 2018.

UNHCR’s budget to support refugees in Pakistan has increased over recent years where the refugee agency also implements the Refugee Affected and Hosting Areas (RAHA) Programme to support Afghan refugees and their host communities.

Since its launch in 2009, RAHA has provided assistance to over 10.6 million people through 4,100 projects worth.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 5^th, 2018.