Cancer centre for children coming up

[sajiv]

Cancer centre for children coming up

MADURAI: An exclusive 'Paediatric Cancer Centre' is coming up at the Meenakshi Mission Hospital and Research Centre (MMHRC) here.The new facility with 25-bed inpatient unit is being built at a cost of about Rs.5 crore and is expected to be ready in another four or five months.
The centre will have 10 private rooms, an outpatient chemotherapy infusion centre and a 10-bed paediatric intensive care unit.
S. Jayabose, Director of Paediatric Hematology-Oncology, MMHRC, said that a separate cancer centre for children was essential for Madurai because of the number of children developing cancer every year in the State and to cater to the requirement of southern districts.
The outpatient chemotherapy infusion centre would have the capacity to treat up to 40 children a day. As a prelude to the new cancer centre, the hospital launched a paediatric cancer service in January.
Comprehensive diagnostic and treatment services would be provided to children suffering from cancer. "At present, there are very few paediatric cancer centres and all of them are located in Chennai and Vellore. In Madurai, the Government Rajaji Hospital has paediatric facility." A press note from the hospital said that physicians/parents could have more information for their queries on phone numbers: 0452-4263000 or 4263001.