Global Cancer Care Egypt

 

 

جمعيـة جلوبال لرعاية مرضى الأورام – مصر

 مشهرة برقم 2509

تليفون : 5442303

14 فبراير  2007

تقرير مجلس الأدارة عن السنة المنتهية في 31/12/2006

+  تم تسجيل الجمعية وأشهارها بوزارة الشئون الأجتماعية في7 ديسمبر 2005 وذلك لكي يتسنى ممارسة خدمة مرضى الأورام بطريقة قانونية وأيضاّ للتصريح لنا بعقد المؤتمرات والندوات التدريبية للأطباء والخدام والمتطوعين في العلاج الترييحي على مستوى الجمهورية . هذا وقد تم انتخاب (7) أعضاء مجلس الأدارة من أعضاء الجمعية المؤسسين لمتابعة أعمال الجمعية وهم:
Advanced plans for establishing the first Hospice in Alexandria
A group of Coptic doctors are working closely with Al Romani Hospital in
Alexandria to establish a 7 inpatients beds and up to 30 day care
placements. Dr Magdy Basilious bought pain relief machines including an
image intensifier and theatre equipment..etc.Anaethetists with expertise in
pain relief from UK will treat patients and train local doctors in various
procedures. The aim is to be operational by October 2007.
Dr Nabil Ishak, Dr Samira Gabra arranged for a series of conferences in
Cairo, Alexandria, Bani Suwayfe,and Al Mansoura. The Cairo conference was
attended by HH Pope Shenouda.
Lecturers from the Nursing institute in Alexandris were very interested in
cooperating in various initiatives. The Coptic Medical Society published a
work manual for palliative care which was well received.
A Moslem Charity offering high tech facilities is keen to work with their
Coptic couterparts.Referrals were already made from churches. Patients were
looked after well. The potential of close working with such  well funded and
hospitable charity is exciting.

مهندس / ناجي اسحق – رئيساّ للجمعية

دكتور  / ناصر عيسى – نائب الرئيس

دكتور  / ايهاب كرم  - أميناّ للصندوق

القس  / يعقوب سليمان – عضواّ

دكتور  / عماد عزت    - عضواّ

دكتور  / عبير موريس – عضواّ

( مكان خالي )          - سكرتيراّ

هذا , وقد أرتفع عدد أعضاء الجمعية من (16) عضواّ مؤسساّ الي (25) عضواّ بالرغم من استقالة (2) عضواّ .

+ تم تعيين سكرتيرة , عاملة نظافة , سائق ميكروباص , مشرفة تمريض وذلك مقابل مكافئة شهرية مناسبة .

+ تم عقد عدد (10) اجتماعات مجلس ادارة لمتابعة شئون الجمعية واتخاذ جميع القرارات واخطار الشئون الأجتماعية بمحاضر تلك الأجتماعات . 

+ تم انشاء خمس مجموعات خدمة لتقديم خدمات لمرضى الأورام من خلال الزيارات المنزلية وتكميلاّ لخدمة قضاء اليوم الواحد بمقر الجمعية . تتكون كل مجموعة من طبيب اخصائي وطبيب مساعد ( نائب أو أمتياز أو طالب طب أو صيدلة ) من المهتمين بالعلاج الترييحي معهم أربعة أو خمسة متطوعون . يختص عمل كل مجموعة بزيارة ومتابعة من أربعة الى خمسة مرضى سرطان معظمهم حالات متأخرة أو حالات حرجة في منازلهم لتحديد أحتياج كل مريض على حدى من علاج ترييحي وعلاج مساعد للأعراض الجانبية التي قد يعاني منها مما تزيد من حدة الألم وكذلك تحديد ما يحتاجه من رعاية تمريضية وأجتماعية ونفسية ومادية . كما يتم توجيه المريض في بعض الحالات للمستشفات المتخصصة أو الأطباء الأستشاريين في الأورام وعلاج الألم وعلى رأسهم الدكتور عماد عزت حبيب الذى يقوم بفحص ومباشرة جميع مرضى الجمعية .

+ توفر الجمعية أتوبيس خاص ( تم الحصول عليه تبرعاّ من أحد الأطباء بالقاهرة ايمانا منه بأهمية الخدمة ) لنقل المرضى بمصاحبة الخدام الى معهد الأورام والقصر العيني والعيادات المختلفة ومقر الجمعية والمناطق الخلوية .

+ يجتمع أعضاء مجموعات الخدمة الخمسة أسبوعياّ كل يوم سبت مع مجلس الجمعية للوقوف على أحتياجات كل مريض والتأكد من متابعته وتوفير أفضل خدمة ممكنة له .

+ يجتمع المرضى القادرين على الحركة والخدام وفى حضور بعض الأعضاء وطبيب واحد ( على الأقل ) ومشرفة التمريض بمقر الجمعية أسبوعياّ كل يوم أثنين لقضاء برنامج اليوم الواحد والذي يشمل الصلاة , عرض احدى الأفلام أو تمثيل احدى الأسكتشات الهادفة مع تناول المشروبات, تناول الغذاء , استشارات طبية , كلمة روحية من أحد الأباء الكهنة .

+ يقوم المرضى والخدام كل أسبوعين تقريباّ لقضاء برنامج اليوم الواحد خارج مقر الجمعية في احدى المنتزهات أو الشواطئ أو الأديرة .

+ تم دراسة عدة حالات اجتماعياّ وتقرر  صرف مساعدات مادية لهم والمساهمة في مصاريف العمليات الجراحية .

+ تم التكفل برعاية بعض المرضى والتي أحتاجت حالتهم المرضية الدخول الى مركز ملك السلام للجراحة والملحق بالجمعية لمباشرة حالتهم المتدهورة كما تم نقل دم لحالات أخرى .

+ تم تخصيص أدوية ومسكنات ألم ومهدئات لمعظم المرضى وامدادهم بها بصفة دورية .

+اعطاء الفرصة للمرضى لممارسة مهارتهم مثل

 - الرسم والحرق على الخشب مع توفير الخامات والمعدات اللازمة والترويج لبيعها لصالح المريض ( أ. عزت )

 - اعداد وجبة اليوم التريحي ( مدام كاميليا )

 - تعليم طرق الطبخ والعجائن وفنون التطريز ( أم سيمون )

 - ابداء الرأي في أنشطة الجمعية وبعض الصعوبات التي تواجهها مثل ترخيص الباص ( عم أبراهيم )

 - موهبة التمثيل في المشاركة في استكشات كوميدية  ( عم توفيق )

 - زيارات منزلية للمرضى الأخرين ( أ. عزت )

+ وصل عدد الحالات المتابعة عن طريق مجموعات الخدمة الى( 39 ) مريض سرطان  بمنطقة الجمعية ( الوراق وامبابه ) وجاري التخطيط لتكوين مجموعات خدمة أخرى لتغطية مناطق مثل شبرا ومصر الجديدة .

وصل عدد الوفيات الي ( 13 ) .

جميع تلك الحالات مرضى سرطان  تشخيصها كالأتي :

السيدات : ثدي  ( 7 ) , غدة درقية ( 1 ) , عظام ( 2 ) , دم ( 1 ) , رئة ( 1 ) , مخ ( 1 ) , أخرى ( 7 ) .     الرجال : مثانة ( 2 ) , بروستاتا ( 3 ) , عظام ( 2 ) , طحال ( 1 ) , رئة ( 1 ) , دم ( 2 ) , معدة ( 1 ) , كبد (1 ) ليمفاوية ( 1 ) , قولون ( 1 ) , جيوب أنفية ( 1 ) , بنكرياس ( 1 ) ,أخرى ( 2 ) .

+ تم توجيه بعض المرضى من خارج القاهرة ( طنطا , الأسكندرية , المنيا ) للمستشفيات المتخصصة والأستشاريين ومتابعة الرعاية المطلوبة . 

+ تم اصدار نشرة غير دورية عن التعريف بنشاط الجمعية وكيفية التعامل مع مريض السرطان . 

+  تم زيارة مندوبوا الشئون الأجتماعية لمقر الجمعية لمتابعة أنشطة الجمعية وفحص السجلات عدة مرات .

+ تم عقد بعض الدورات التدريبية بمقر الجمعية بواسطة أطباء متخصصين لرفع كفاءة المتطوعين التمريضية وكيفية التعامل مع مريض السرطان وذويه مع تطبيق مبادئ العلاج الترييحي .

+ تم عقد بعض المؤتمرات والندوات بالتعاون مع الجمعية الطبية القبطية وهي :

 1. المؤتمر الخامس للعناية بمريض السرطان بمطرانية المنيا وبالتعاون مع جمعية الرجاء بالمنيا في 26 ,27 يناير 2006 .

 2. المؤتمر الثالث للعلاج الترييحي لمرضى السرطان بطنطا وبالتعاون مع سنودس النيل الأنجيلي في 27 أبريل 2006 .

 3. ندوة عن العلاج الترييحي لمريض السرطان مع مناظرة لبعض مرضى السرطان ( 15 مريض ) بمقر الجمعية وبحضور وفد خدمة المرضى من أستراليا ( 3 متطوعون , 2 ممرضات , 1 طبيبة ) في 28 أبريل 2006 .

 4. ندوة متقدمة عن العلاج الترييحي لمريض السرطان لمتطوعي الراعي الصالح بالمنيا في 29 أبريل 2006 .

 5. زيارة لجمعية الرجاء بالمنيا ومشروع هوسبيس المنيا في 29 أبريل 2006 .

 6. ندوة عن التعامل مع المريض قدمها فريق خدمة المرضى الأسترالي بمقر الجمعية في 1 مايو 2006 .

خطــة الجمعيــة المستقبلية

1.  العمل على الحصول تبرعاّ من شركات الأدوية على حصة دورية من كيماويات الأورام وحصة دورية من المورفين وأخرى من مسكنات الألم

Chemotherapy , Morphine ,  Duragesic Patches , Analgesic & Tramadol . 

2.بناء دار لرعاية مرضى الأورام , هوسبيس لخدمة المجتمع خصوصاّ مرضى السرطان وذلك بالتعاون مع الجمعيات الأهلية والمنظمات مثل نادى الليونز وطلب الموافقة على جمع المال لهذا الغرض .

مهندس / ناجي اسحق  رئيس الجمعية          

 

CMS/GCC JANUARY 2007 ACTIVITIES 

 

EDUCATIONAL & TRAINING TALKS WERE GIVEN BY

                     Dr Samira Iskander-Gabra  Specialist in Palliative Medicine
                                                                 Marie Curie Hospice, Birmingham
                           Dr Ian Morgan                  Medical Director & Specialist in Palliative
                                                                 Medicine Marie Curie Hospice, Birmingham
                           Mrs Lynne Potter             Senior Ward Sister
                                                                St Luke Hospice, Sheffield
                           Mrs Alison Rietz              Head of MacMillan Unit for Palliative Care
                                                                Northern General Hospital, Sheffield  

 

AT A CHRISTIAN LEVEL

I Conference for Christian hospital directors and matrons at the Papal Centre, Abbaseya, Cairo, organized by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)                    17 Jan 07

 

·         The conference was presided by HH Pope Shenouda III who gave an opening talk and attended the first lecture of Samira on Pall Care Concept. His Holiness discussed and commented on some issues like sedation of cancer patients at terminal stages and listened to questions made by the attendees

·         Other talks about palliative care were given by Samira, Magdi R Iskander, Professor of Pain Management, Cancer Institute, Cairo University and myself. Magdi talked about types of cancer and pain control and I presented our experience in introducing pall care to Egypt. Samira's lectures were superb and received with a great deal of admiration and appreciation

·         Mrs Soheir Fawzi was the organizer who invited and catered for about hundred people. Her tireless efforts to make the conference so successful were praised

·         HG Avva Benyamin, Bishop of Menofeyya and Co-President of GAMM3EYAT AL-RAGAA, EGYPT attended the whole conference and gave a concise talk, ''we preach life and not death''.  HG acknowledged the efforts of the CMS/GCCE and was told of contacts and visits made to Ragaa branches in Bani Sweaf, Menya and Mansoura.  Recommendation on applying pall care concept in all  Ragaa centres was made in a conference in Shebeen Al-Koam presided by HG in Nov 05

·         Mr Guirguis Sale7, General Director (AMEEN 3AAM)  MECC gave the opening speech, introduced HH the Pope and speakers and worked along Mr Khalil Gamaal on recommendations of the conference at the end of the meeting

·         Introducing palliative Care for cancer patients in Christian Hospitals was on the top of the recommendations. It was agreed further contacts will be made with the CMS UK and GCCE to work on this     

                                                                     

            II  Conference at Al-Byaad Centre, Bani-Sweaf,                      19-20 Jan 07

·         Fr Rev Ibrahem Azer, supervisor of Ragaa Bani-Sweaf worked hard to organize this 2 days conference attended by about 120 volunteers (KHODDAM) , including physicians and other members of medical profession. These KHODDAM, mainly Ragaa members came from B.Sweaf, Fayoum, Menya and towns like Samaloat, Matay, Al-Feshn and Bani Mazaar

·         Lynne and Alison were main speakers. Father Ibrahem, Eng. Nagui S Isaac, President of GCCE, Ta-Soani Dr Joanna and myself contributed in the discussion and answering to questions

·         An inspection to a modern multi-store service building was made. Ta-soani Joanna who is leading many services in B. Sweaf had a talk with HG Bishop Ghabreyal on allocating a floor in the building as a hospice. It was agreed Ta-soani and Father Ibrahem will make comprehensive study on needs and available human and financial resources to enable the project take off

               III  A full day , 18 Jan, and half day, 22 Jan, visit to Embaba Centre, Geeza

·         Nagui Isaac, Nasser Issa, assisted by Maha, Secretary of the Centre, organized the event. The great efforts put by them included a superb preparation and documentation of talks. This made and information and training given both enjoyable and beneficial to members and Khoddam came for this great event

·         About forty Doctors, nurses and volunteers, including two experienced accountants recently joined, have attended

·         Lynne and Alison were the main speakers. They demonstrated practical ways in moving patients. Nagui shared in discussion and answering questions

·         There was a chance to discuss activities and service provided with Nagui, Nasser and Ehab Karam, from the governing board of trustees and the two volunteer accountants. Lynn and Alison learned the way the service was conducted and saw the files of patients attending Embaba Centre. Various aspects of the nursing part of the service were discussed with three nurses, Janet, Nageyya and Nadia. Janet is an experienced senior nurse who was recently appointed to work on a part time basis

·         Lynne and Alison appreciated the warm friendly atmosphere and met some patients who are cared for in this centre. They expressed satisfaction for the patients' response to the care and love they receive

              IV  An evening talk to KHODDAM, King Mariot, West of Alex               22 Jan

·         Lynne and Alison gave simple but practical talk to about 25 volunteers. Patients from this King's church attend the Day Care service at Al-Romany Centre, Alexandria

·         The meeting was arranged by Souzi Sabry Ishak, supervisor of Al-Romany Centre and Fayez, the leader of the team serving patients with chronic serious conditions                                                   

             V   A full day visit to Al-Romany Centre, Hadara, Alexandria                  24 Jan

·         Ian Morgan, Samira, Lynne and Alison met and talked to volunteers and advised on management of Day Care and in patients they saw

·         Souzi Sabry assisted Christina and many members of Al-Romany staff organised the activities of that successful day. About forty attended including Dr Mary Malak, Dr Gobran, Dr Sobhi and Dr Ghabriel. FR Rev Salib Hakim who spends hours and hours of preparation and provision of Romany Hospital facilities, like in all previous occasions, keeps a very low profile all through the event. He is a much admired and revered humble man

·         Five volunteers from Mar Mina, Fleming, led by Dr Margret Basillious attended and had the chance to learn about the palliative care and ways a hospice centre is run

·         Magdi Morkos Basillious, Consultant Anaesthetist and Pain Management Specialist and a CMS Trustee, came especially from the UK to share in the activities at Al-Romany and to attend the Nursing College Conference. He inspected the alterations and additions made to include ''Pain Management'' service and dedicate the whole floor to the palliative care. Magdi spoke to two senior nurses and dealt with a patient with neuralgia caused by a brain tumour

·         The Romany Centre was visited by Laila Moussa, professor emeritus and previous head of dept of nuclear medicine, Alex University,  and  a colleague of Samira, and Assem Roustom, senior consultant in radiotherapy and nuclear medicine, and a colleague of Magdi Basillious. Gamal and Samira Gabra, Magdi and his sister Margaret and husband Sobhi, Ian Morgan and myself visited the very modern and highly equipped hospital, Ayadi Al-Moustakbal, under direction of Assem. Part of the Ayadi Al-Moustakbal runs on a charitable basis and, it was agreed the hospital would treat some patients referred from Al-Romany Centre

·         The group serving at Al-Romany were pleased to know Laila and Assem liked the place and service given

 

AT A NATIONAL LEVE

I Nursing College, Alexandria University Conference                                       23 Jan 07

·         The one day conference on palliative care was arranged by Prof Azza El-Soussi, head, and Dr Mary Malak, demonstrator of the Critical Care Nursing Dept.  They both worked tirelessly and enthusiastically to make the conference, under the auspices of Prof Nahed Elsebai, dean of the faculty,  such a successful and great event

·          Lectures and presentations were given by Ian, Samira, Lynne and Alison, and doctors Hayam Ibrahim and Eman Zahran, members of college staff. Special talk on dealing with emergencies while caring for patients with advanced cancers was given by Samira

·         Number attended, about eighty, included members of university staff and nursing students, an assistant professor from Ein Shams Nursing College and nurses from Embaba Al-Romany Centres.

·          Prof Assem , Prof Laila Moussa, Prof Ramez Bedwani, Magdi and Margaret Basillious, Sobhi Naguib, Nagui Isaac,  Gobran Hafez, Consultant Anaesthetist and director of palliative care at Romani,  Gamal Gabra and Soher Kamel and Hala Mestekly from Ragaa Tanta

·         Magdi Basillious distributed comprehensive  notes on cancer and palliative medicine he specially prepared for this occasion

·         Our visitors and guest of honours were invited for a supper at Farous Resturant for university staff. The atmosphere was friendly and joyful and plans for future cooperation were thought of. Some nursing professors requested to be members in our service. It was agreed we exchange feed-backs on the conference

 

II Two Days Conference at Tumours Centre, Mansoora University,           25 – 26 Jan

·         Main organizer, DR Tamer Fady, university lecturer and oncology surgeon, worked hard to prepare the conference. He has been in contact with Dr Mohsen and Dr Hanaa Antoan who serve cancer patients in Mansoora to arrange for Christian volunteers and nurses attend the centre

·         Samira, Ian, Lynne and Alison, and members from the university staff, including Tamer, gave lectures on many aspects of palliative medicine and nursing with more than hundred attendants. Those included nurses, doctors and volunteers, but, mostly nurses

·         Samira and Ian visited a private hospital,  Ragaa Hospital, and saw a number of cancer patients. While the care given to them was appreciated, Ian and Samira identified many negative aspects adding to the burden and suffering of the patients

·         Nurses and  volunteers felt they learnt a lot and pointed out nurses, unlike doctors, do not get the chance of having conferences.

·          We expect feed back and future plans for the establishment of a dept for palliative medicine in the centre. The event was documented by local TV

·         I visited the three bed rooms flat originally rented to provide a day service facilities and 3 – 4 beds for cancer patients. Facing the pressing needs of nursing patients suffering from other serious diseases it proved difficult for Hanaa and her team, at this stage, to stick to the original plans

III Two days Conference arranged by Lions Heliopolis at the Baron Hotel, Cairo

(Second Pall Care Conference arranged by the CMS and Lions\Leo Heliopolis)

                                                                                                                             26 –  27 Jan

  • The conference was organized by Eng Elias Zakhora, General Secretary (AMEEN AAM) and presided by retired Major General Samir Ismaeel Barakat, President of Lions Heliopolis. Trustees and members attended included Mr Ahmad M Al-Shennawi, Dr Howaida Kerdani.Dr Mohamed Zidan (I P Governer), Dr Nashaat Youssef and Eng Gamal Shokri Barsoum. Five junior members from Leo Club, including Mohamad Beltagi, current president, and Wissam Hanna, last year president of the club, Eng Nagui Isaac, president and Dr Ehab Karam, treasurer of GCCE and four Italian nuns were among the audience

·         Eng Elias prepared a special brochure on common cancer and stages of the disease in Arabic for distribution during the conference. He also arranged for two TV channels to record parts of the event and to interview him and president of the Lions Club, and myself as rep of the Coptic Medical Society

·         Samira, Ian, Lynne, Alison, Mervat Antoan (Medical Director in a Pharmaceutical Company) and myself talked on various aspects of Palliative Care. There was special stress on the urgent need to establish this service in Egypt and, Ian presented outlines of strategy of accomplishing that

·         Eng Ahmad Salem, General Governor Lions Clubs, shared by Major General Barakat and Eng Zakhora presented us with mementos of the club as tokens of honour

·         President, Ameen AAm, trustees of Heliopolis Lions, and, indeed,  other Lions decided to take upon themselves establishing a purpose constructed hospice in Cairo as soon as they complete their current major project, Sight First. These were exciting news for Ian, Samira, Nagui, Lynne, Alison and I. Planning for such momentous project need a great deal of planning, finance, administration and technical skills that requires close work between Lions Clubs and GCCE in Egypt and the CMS, GCC and Marie Curie , and perhaps St Luke and the Rotherham Hospices in the UK

OTHER MATTERS

  • WORK ON THE SITE FOR CMS/GCC
  • INTERVIEWING TWO DOCTORS PLANNED TO COME TO THE UK FOR TRAINING IN APRIL
  • PREPARATION FOR BROCHURES PRINTING ON PALL CARE AND SOME COMMOMN MALIGNANCIES
  • DISCUSSION OF EXPANSION PLANS TO INCLUDE PAIN MANAGEMENT AT AL-ROMANY
  • MEETINGS BETWEEN SAMIRA AND DR OSAMMA KHATTAB OF THE WHO BASE IN CAIRO
 

 

Father Bishoy Kamel’s  Guest House

St. George and St. Bashnounah Church

El Sayda Zaynab,Cairo

 

     Poor people have been coming from all over the country for treatment at the Cancer Institute in Cairo for many years.  While waiting for their treatment, they used to sleep under a bridge near St. George and St. Bashnounah Church in El Sayda Zaynab district.  By 1996, Muslim patients ended up sleeping in mosques instead, which put the onus on the church to find suitable accommodation for Christians.  The local bishop bought a piece of land behind the church and gained planning permission to build a five storey building.  By 2002, stage one was completed with two storeys and thirty beds
 
The Al Ragaa charity recommends the patients and contacts the house.  The house accommodates one carer per patient and living expenses and food are taken care of by the house.  Leukaemia patients receive blood transfusions and when a patient dies, a burial process including buying the coffin, are also offered free of charge for the poor.  I asked myself, where does the funding come from for all this?  The answer came from Mr Magdy Gordon, who said that while the catchments area of the church is poor, the area is full of much loved saints, including Saint Bashnounah.  Rich Copts come from all over the country to visit their beloved saints and fulfil their promises, often by donating money to the project.  The Holy week is particularly useful as many visitors come to the area, resulting in considerable donations to the house
 
Bishop Selwanes head hunted a successful businessman to manage the project; Magdy Gordon.  To date, half a million pounds was donated, however each stage of the project presented its challenges.  One evening, Magdy found himself praying as he had bills to pay totalling forty thousand Egyptian pounds.  The builders expected payment the next day.  Two hours later an old woman walked in, locked the door and Magdy thought she was a cancer patient seeking help.  Instead she said, ‘Here are my life savings, I wish to donate it to the house, totalling twenty thousand’.  Later in the evening, a chauffer driven rich Copt came to Magdy saying, ‘Something compelled me to come tonight, I feel I ought to give you twenty thousand pounds’.  This is one of the examples of how heaven answers our prayers
 
The concrete work had been finished of the remaining three floors.  Magdy looked at the concrete and wondered where all the money would come from to complete the work.  An engineer from Dubai came regularly to donate money to patients every Christmas and Easter.  When he saw the building he offered to finish one floor at his expense and this was duly completed.  About thirty people serve the house, doctors, nurses, engineers.  A group of volunteer ladies oversee the food and the cleanliness.  The house has on average one hundred and fifty patients at any one time on their books.  Patients come and go as their condition necessitate.  The peak was on the 2nd January this year when Magdy received an emergency call that forty five patients and carers were in the house.  The only way to accommodate them was for carers to sleep on mattresses on the floor and let the patients have the beds 
 
Magdy had a particularly tricky business problem which he expected would take hours.  However, unexpectedly it was all sorted out very quickly.  Since he had time on his hands, he decided to drive to the house at ten o clock at night.  He was surprised that Bishop Selwanes was already there making a surprise visit to check that patients were comfortable and to pray for them.  The two men left after midnight feeling satisfied that all was well.  Here is a beautiful example of saints making a Holy alliance with the rich in order that the poor receive much needed care

 

 
 
 
CMS trustees and AGM meeting 27th
 November 2005
 
    Present:    Dr N Raphael ( Chair), Mr E Dimitry (Treasurer),  Dr I Sidhom,
                     Dr M Youssef,  Dr N Ishak,  Dr M Bassilious
    •     Approval of accounts (1st April 2004- 31st March 2005) :-
         Income  £19 382
         Interest earned  £67.87
         Total income = £19 449.87
 
         Expenditure:
         CMS newsletter £678
         Global cancer care £8 778
         New doctors support £5 000
         Poor and needy support £1 769.50
         Total expenditure =   £16 225.50
 
•     Global cancer care activity:-
         Training:-
         2 Egypt conferences for cancer palliative care (May 2004 for doctors/January 2005 for volunteers).
         UK training for doctors and nurses (3 doctors).
 Joint meeting with El-Ragaa charity in El Menoufia (2nd
Nov. 2005).
         Cancer care centres in Egypt:
·         El-Hadra, Alexandria (free service clinic for cancer patients, established dayroom, 12 bed ward).
·         Embaba, Cairo (Day room, training centre).
         Anticipated financial needs for the next financial year are
£22 000 other than an ambitious Radioactive Cobalt machine
(£100 000-£150 000)/ minibus for El-Hadra Centre (£10 000).
 
•          Difficult situation regarding newly coming doctors with very few jobs available in the UK.
 
•          Efforts to organise Junior Medical society.
 
Signed                                                                               
 
              Dr N Raphael                                         Mr E Dimitry
              Chair                                                    Treasurer

 
 
Report on recent work on Cancer Care Egypt
5 November 2005

I General

• Acceptance of application to  register with Ministry of Social Affairs  under the name '' Global Cancer Care-Egypt '' as a charity (Gameyya). Trustees have been selected, Fr Rev Yakoob Soliman (currently serving in the USA) spiritual advisor and trustee, Mr Nagui Isaac, president, Dr Nasser Issa, deputy, Dr Ehab Karam, treasurer and Dr Abeer Morris and Mr Ataef Agaypi, trustees.

• Communication with a priest in a district of Al-Menya Governorate is under way in response to  request for a training conference in January. Mr Nagui isaac and Dr Ehab Karam are preparing for this, and Dr Samira Iskander-Gabra will be in Egypt at this time and will join in the teaching program.

• Communication was established with Mr Eng Magdi Azab, a secretary of Lions West Alexandria and a member of the Evangelical Synod. There was a provisional agreement on a conference for doctors, Moslems and Christian, of Tanta city to be held at the American Hospital in May 06.

• Discussion with Prof Nashaat Lotfi for possible conference for all doctors,   in Alexandria in collaboration with the Doctors Union (Nequaba) in May 06

• Printing 16 (A4) pages brochure with detailed information on the GCCE / CMS activities and important articles on cancer care, early detection and recommendations. Three thousand copies will be available for distribution by the end of this month at a cost of £ 900-00

II Shebein-El-Koam

Dr Gobran Hafez of the GCCE, Alexandria , Dr Ehab Karam and Mr Nagui S Isaac of the GCCE Cairo and I have attended the conference of Ragaa Charities held at Ezbaet Henein, Monofeya on the 2nd of November 05.  This was in response to the kind invitation of HG Anba Benjamin, bishop of El-Monofeya, to give a presentation and talks on our service in Egypt.

HG Anba Benjamin and HG Anba Abraam of Fayoom were selected by the Holy Synod to supervise the services provided by nearly 72 branches of Ragaa charity. Al-Ragaa is the most well organized Christian charity in Egypt offering help to seriously ill people because of diseases like cancer and kidney failure.

The conference, attended by nearly 250 delegates, was held in this large Christian centre compromising  a conference hall, a church, large dinning hall, flats for guests overnight stay ... etc.

A power-point presentation of the history and aims of the service and talks of personal experience in palliative care by both Gobran and Ehab were met with full approval by most delegates, including about twenty priests. There were many questions asked and invitations to visit some places, like El Menya and Esmaelleya . HG Anba Benjamin has called for inclusion of palliative care principles in all Al-Ragaa branches and the final recommendations of the conference affirmed that.

A fax of thanks was sent to His Grace and to Abouna Pisenti Nagaty, his deputy, with promise to work on these recommendations.

III CAIRO

• Meeting at Embaba Center 13 November. The meeting was arranged and attended by Nagui, Ehab, Nasser and Abeer, trustees of GCCE, to discuss patients service in Embaba with local church volunteers and how to  make the best of the center. Father Azer was not able to attend because of an urgent matter but we were blessed by a talk from another priest. I gave a talk on the importance of '' Day Care '' service for mobile cancer patients.
• Discussion with Mr Magdi Gordon and chat with Dr Salah Pastawroas on relevant matters and the service Abouna Bishoy Guest House for Cancer Patients, Old Cairo, provides. The CMS committee has previously agreed to donate £ 2000-00 to the ABGH.
• Deciding on the financial needs of the GCCE main office and cancer care centre of Embaba, in Giza. ( £ 5000- 00 for year 2006
• Planning for the church volunteers training program at Al-Menya and the topics to be given.

IV ALEXANDRIA

Contacts and meeting      
                          Fr Rev Salib Hakim   Supervisor of the center
                                 Fr Rev Sarabamon Supervisor of Ragaa Centre, Fleming
                                 Dr Abdalla Fawzi Co-Supervisor, Ragaa Cantre, Fleming
                                 Fr Rev Athanasious Wadee3, Al-Malak Church, M Kamel
                                 Dr Nashaat Lotfi, Professor Radiotherapy, Alex. University
                                 Mrs Souzy Sabry, M.Kamel Al-Ragaa Centre Carer
                                 Mrs Georget Guirguis, M.Kamel Al-Ragaa Centre Carer Day Care Service, Al-Romai
                                 Fr Rev Abraam,   Al-morkoseyya , Alexandria
                                 Dr Soheir Kamel, Cancer Service Carer, Tanta
                                 Mr Shamel, Assistant to Dr S Kamel, Cancer Service Carer
                                 Dr Morad Bassily, Professor of Geo-Physics, Supporter
                                 Dr Gobran Hafez, Consultant Anaesthetist, Pall Care tuto
                                 Dr Nabil S Isshak, CMS Trustee, Coordinator of Service
                                 Dr Isshak, Director of a church hospital, El-Asafra

 

Decisions and recommendations

1 Agreement on   establishing closer cooperation with Al-Ragaa Center, Fleming
· Training  Dr Katie, Abdalla's wife on principles of Palliative Care and
     observing services provided at S Yorkshire hospices and pain
      management departments, and the current visit of Abdalla to the hospice              
· Sharing efforts to establish a link with various cancer charities, especially Al-Ragaa, M, Kamel
· Sending patients from Fleming to Day Room at Al-Romany Center
· Exchanging information on patients service and teaching activities
2  Looking at   the desperate needs to provide radiotherapy at Al-Romany, administered by Dr
 
Nashat Lotfi, professor of radiotherapy, and teem of assistants. There was an agreement on the proposal  to   purchase  a  radio-active  cobalt  machine, at  a  cost  of  £100,000  to 150,000 as a matter of priority. Apart from the benefits a large number of poor cancer patients would get, including palliation, it would improve the palliative service as a whole. Plans for ways to fund for this project and finding donators have been discussed.

3 Taking steps  to enhance the use of Al-Romany Center; out-patient clinic, day room and inpatient. Gobran recommended Nashat to lead the medical aspect of the palliative care and head the team work at this centre. The matter was discussed with him. Nashat has kindly accepted and there was a full agreement on the policy and means of improving the work.    

4 Recruitment of  Christina Milad to work as a part time secretary and three young ladies as assistants to help in various services provided in the centre and  at patients homes. The assistants will work under supervision of Souzi Sabry and Georget Guirguis, members of Al-Ragaa M Kamel centre and Assistants to Fr Salib Hakim, supervisor of Al-Romany Center. Personal expenses for the services provided by these volunteers are made by one individual personal donation.

5  Preparation for  the general lecture to be given by HG Ava Mousa on Wed the 8th of February at El-Morkoseyya were discussed. The lecture will target youths, including medical students, and Rev Abraam expects hundreds of them to attend.

Advertising for the lecture and choosing the title were agreed upon by Fr Abraam, the priest of the cathedral. He will give a short talk on the palliative service we are working on followed by invitation to those who like to join. Special form is being prepared to be filled by those prospect volunteers. Training courses and advice on the kind of service allocated are arranged.  Gobran is responsible for organizing the training courses.

6 To achieve a more effective cancer patient service a system of communication through data base is felt necessary. Oncologists, Fr Abraam of Al-Morkeseyye,  Gobran Hafez, leading the palliative treatment  service and those managing cancer service in Al-Romany and Al-Ragaa Fleming Centers are in agreement on this; it is hoped Al-Ragaa Mostafa Kamel Center would join. We are in touch with Dr Ramez Bedwani, Consultant Psychiatry, Professor at the High Institute of Health and President of a national charity for cancer patients in Alexandria, though we were not able to meet this time. It appears the data base work can be accommodated at Al-Morkeseyya while an office for the work of the secretary remains at Al-Romany Center.

7 There is an obvious need for computers and telephone lines for Al-Romany Center and data base office at Al-Morkoseyya to achieve communication

8 A microbus based at Al-Romany Center for day room patient transport and home visits by volunteers is also needed.

 

SUMMARY

vGCCE registration has been successful and a board of director was chosen
vNeeds to provide Cobalt radiotherapy at Al-Romany centre; a special fund has to be made
vRecommendation to include palliative care in services provided by all
        Ragaa Charities and establishing communications with some of them
vPreparation for the Third Conference for Volunteers in Jan/Feb 2006, at Al-Manya and visits to our centres in
        Embaba and Hadara and Al-Ragaa Center in Fleming
vPreparations for Third Conference on Palliative Care for doctors in Tanta and Alexandria in May 06
vWorking out a budget for the year 2006
vImproving the cancer care service at Embaba and Al-Hadara centres

 

Tasks and Activities to be discussed

►Fund raising events  (1) Dinners in four locations (12 – 21 May 06) (2) Any other means; other events, GCCE donation, seeking donation from Copts abroad ... etc

►Inclusion of Nabil Aziz and Amir Salama (Sheffield), Salah Pastawroas (Manchester), Gamal Gabra (Birmingham) and Magdy M Basillious (Greenwich) as trustees of the CMS on their approval

►Communication with British doctors of Egyptian origin working in cancer field and pain management with special dealings with tumours, like Rasouf Ghali , Nabegh , for whatever help they can provide in the UK and on their visits to Egypt

►Seeking a date for meeting Mr J Dineen and Mr R Morley to agree on the kind of involvement in GCCE, having succeeded to register in the UK and Egypt. The trustees of GCC have also pointed to consider awareness campaign on early detection of tumours in our program and extending the service to all citizens of Egypt. Positive steps were already made

►Invitation to members of The Rotherham Hospice and nurses and doctors from Sheffield and Worksop who contribute to training our doctors for a meal

Nabil Isshak

 
 
Work on GCCE  project 
 
    April – May  2005
 1- Completion of rental procedure, internal changes and decoration  and furnishing a 130 meters square luxurious flat above and attached to Malik-Al-Salam Hospital at  Al-Warrak, Embaba.  This centre aims to provide care for cancer patients whom are served by volunteers from local churches at this densely populated district. The facilities offered comprise of '' Day Care '' service and two beds for patients who need short stay to improve distressing symptoms.
The centre has been inaugurated about the middle of April and started to function shortly after. It is supervised by Mr Nagui Isaac, GCCE coordinator, helped an assistant resident near the centre. Dr Nasser Essa and Dr Ehab Karam , members of GCCE team in Cairo, look into the patient's medical needs and give advice on management. The main service is given by volunteers from churches at Embaba whom are encouraged to bring their patients to the centre in small groups. They take responsibility for the patients during their visit and stay. Details of rent and running expenses will be provided.
 
2- Completion of Day Care room attached to the Cancer Care Centre at Al-Romany Hospital, Al-hadara, Alexandria. The work on its construction has been going on for sometime at a total cost of more than LE 50,000. The CMS has contributed LE 25,000 ( about  £ 2,300 ), two thousands were paid and three hundreds are due. The first group of patients, a group of nine, were collected from their homes and received and looked after by volunteers, two priests and Dr Gobran They have tremendously enjoyed the day, the 2nd of June. One of the volunteers described to me the event,             '' patients were so excited and asked about the date of their next visit.'' The volunteer, who herself was excited, added, '' You could not overlook the big smile on their face.''
Running and providing service in the day care room and ward for in-patients is seen by a group  of volunteers made of:
                      Fr Salib Hakim , Priest of church and founder of Al-Romany Hospital
                      Dr Gobran Hafez, consultant anaesthetist and provider of palliative medical care
                      Mrs Georget Guirguis , graduate of High Institute of Nursing and member of Al-Ragaa Charity
                            based at Mostafa Kamel church
                      Mrs Souzi Sabry Ishak, an accountant and member of Al-Ragaa Charity based at Mostafa Kamel
                            church
                      Mrs Nadya       , member of Al-Ragaa Charity based at Mostafa Kamel church
 
'' A weekly out-patient clinic for cancer patients is running by Dr Gobran Hafez. This clinic provides a
   free service to all cancer patients attending hospital regardless of their faiths.''
 
3- Visit to Egypt by:
            
                    Dr Samira Iskander-Gabra, member of CMS and specialist in palliative medicine
                    Dr Ian Morgan, specialist in palliative medicine and director of Marie Curie hospice,
                                            Birmingham
                    Dr Frank Neal, consultant radiotherapist emeritus, chairman of the Rotherham Hospice
                                           and a founder of Sheffield and Rotherham hospices
Places visited & work done
a-     Al-Romany Cancer Centre on 11 and 12 May. A talk was given by  Frank Neal to doctors and volunteers on aspects of patients care and importance  and running of Day Care service. Dr Ramez Al-Bedwani, a senior consultant psychiatrist and chairman of a cancer care charity in Alexandria, also, shared in discussion, expressed his views and talked about the psychological aspects of cancer patients' emotions and attitude.
Dr S Iskander-Gabra and Dr I Morgan examined three inpatients, evaluated their conditions and discussed them with doctors and nursing staff in charge.
Although the attendance of doctors was poor, the centre has benefited from the visit and advice of the three distinguished guests.
                       
                  b-  Embaba cancer care centre 14 May 2005  Dr Frank Neil talked to doctors and saw patients .
                  c-  Abouna Bishoy Hostel that provides accommodation and care to cancer patients
                       attending the High Institute of Tumours, Fom El-Khalig, Old Cairo. Mr Magdi Gordon
                       received Dr Neal at Abouna Bishoy Guest House, discussed their service and plans for
                       expansion. He introduced him to young doctors serving patients in the house. Later, he
                       took Dr Neal in a visit to the Churches of Old Cairo.
d-       Dr Frank Neal met one of the engineers working on plans of a purpose built hospice by Mari-Morkos Church, Heliopolis. The project is supervised by Abouna Dawood Lam3i who is very keen to see it through.
e-       Dr Ian Morgan and Dr Frank Neal visited a patient, consultant paedi