The project focused on the Health Sector and proposed to purchase medical equipment for the Aswan Cancer Center. The Aswan Cancer Center primarily serves Egypt’s southernmost governorate of Aswan. The Aswan Cancer Center serves both rural and urban patients of various ethnic affiliations including Egyptian, Nubian, and Bedouin peoples.
The Aswan Cancer Center maintains and operates one upper and lower endoscope. The endoscopes comfortably service 300 individuals per year; however, up to approximately 500 procedures have been performed in recent years. Endoscopes must be cleaned after each use, in effect limiting endoscopic procedures to one per day. While colonoscopy is recommended for all those 50 years of age and older, endoscopy tends to be prioritized at the Aswan Cancer Center, giving the procedures to those who already have symptoms indicative of cancer. The purchase of additional endoscopes will assist the Aswan Cancer Hospital in their goal of increasing endoscopic procedures, in order to identify early warning signs and aid in the identification of a variety of cancers and other health issues. Early detection can significantly save and prolong life.
Specifically, the project proposed to purchase upper and lower endoscopes manufactured by Pentax.
The endoscopes were delivered in April of 2012 and Dr. Amir M. Bishara, Director of the Aswan Oncology Center, reported that upon arrival at the Cancer Hospital, they were put to immediate use.
