The upgrading of the Cape Coast Regional Hospital (CRH) into a Teaching Hospital will soon receive another major boost as plans are afoot to establish in Cape Coast a Cancer Centre of excellence for children.

Dr. Robert Mitchell Memorial Foundation, a health non-governmental organisation, will build the Centre in partnership with the Hospital and the University of Cape Coast School of Medical Sciences. They are to work out modalities for the construction of the Centre which is envisaged not only to diagnose and perform surgeries on children with the disease but also treat those cases with utmost attention.

Dr. Daniel Asare, Medical Director of CRH told newsmen that the Centre, which is expected to be built within four years, will be the first of its kind in the country and will be fully dedicated to the treatment of childhood cancers.

“Everything from diagnosis, surgery, treatment and post treatment of the disease will be carried out to ensure that patients are given the best treatment and monitored for them to recover very fast,” he said.

Dr Asare said currently Korle Bu and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospitals in Accra and Kumasi respectively treat childhood cancers but there is no facility totally dedicated to the disease and the Centre will offer all these services at the same place.

Mrs. Emma Mitchell, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation who led a delegation to donate assorted food items, detergents, toys and drinks to the Children’s Ward of the Hospital in Cape Coast, said the Foundation was established in honour of his son who died of cancer.

She said the treatment of cancer is very expensive and the NHIS does not cover it and therefore the Foundation thought it wise to have the Centre constructed to diagnose and treat childhood cancers.

Mrs. Mitchell appealed to all workers to contribute at least one cedi every month towards the funding of the project.

She said boxes will be placed at vantage points for people to donate and urged individuals and corporate bodies to also support the Foundation to facilitate the early completion of the Centre.

The Director of Nursing Services of the CRH, Mrs Cecilia Nancy Duedu who received the items, expressed gratitude to the Foundation.