The National Cancer Centre funded to the tune of Rs 1.1 billion by the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), was inaugurated, on Wednesday afternoon, by the Prime Minister, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, at Solferino, in Vacoas.
The Deputy-Prime Minister, Minister of Housing and Land Use Planning, Minister of Tourism, Mr Louis Steven Obeegadoo; the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Kailesh Kumar Singh Jagutpal; several Ministers and Members of Parliament; the Ambassador of the Republic of Mauritius to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mr Showkutally Soodhun; the Chief Executive Officer of the SFD, Mr Sultan Abdulrahman Al-Marshad; and the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Republic of Mauritius, Mr Fayez Meshel Altemyat; and other personalities were also present.
The National Cancer Centre is a state-of-the-art hospital with approximately 200 beds, offering cutting-edge technologies for cancer treatment. Equipped with two Linear Accelerators with multi-leaf collimators and a CyberKnife robotic radiotherapy device, the centre provides advanced radiation therapy. A complete spectrum of radiological modalities, including X-ray, Ultrasound, CT Scan, MRI, DEXA Scan, and Mammography, is available, along with Nuclear Medicine Facilities, PET CT Scan, and other therapeutic services.
In his address, Prime Minister Jugnauth stressed the urgent need for the National Cancer Centre in light of the high prevalence of cancer in Mauritius. With cancer ranking as the third leading cause of death, he emphasised Government’s commitment to comprehensive detection and treatment efforts, bolstered by ongoing advancements in the healthcare sector. ‘The forthcoming state-of-the-art cancer hospital will not only provide novel avenues for cancer treatment for Mauritians but is also poised to become a regional centre of excellence’, he added.
Speaking about cancer’s wide-reaching impact, Prime Minister Jugnauth highlighted its effects on individuals, families, communities, and the nation at large. He underscored that the Cancer Centre boasts not only of modern infrastructure but also cutting-edge equipment and machinery. He spoke about the importance of thorough training for personnel to ensure effective utilisation of these resources for patient care and relief. Additionally, he reiterated Government’s responsibility to provide facilities for those afflicted with cancer, highlighting ongoing vaccination campaigns, such as those targeting papillomavirus prevention, and initiatives aimed at encouraging regular check-ups for breast cancer, a condition affecting a significant portion of the female population.
Minister pointed escalating cancer rates in Mauritius. He underscored the significance of the National Cancer Control Programme, which considers various factors such as population aging, climate change, industrialisation, and lifestyle shifts in devising appropriate strategies.
Moreover, Minister Jagutpal underlined the imperative of providing appropriate and effective treatment for cancer patients, recognising the nature of the disease. He pointed to the National Cancer Registry data indicating a rising trend in cancer cases in Mauritius, necessitating a comprehensive approach encompassing awareness, screening, diagnosis, and treatment programmes. He, thus, commended Government’s proactive measures, highlighting the regular breast and cervical cancer screening initiatives conducted within the public healthcare system as part of broader efforts to combat the disease effectively.
As for Ambassador Altemyat, he stated that the new National Cancer Hospital symbolises a pivotal shift in cancer care delivery, underscoring the fundamental belief that every individual should have access to life-saving treatments. Additionally, he discussed collaborative efforts between Saudi Arabia and Mauritius, highlighting various joint projects spanning urban development, infrastructure, water sanitation, healthcare, housing, and other sectors. These partnerships, he asserted, play a vital role in supporting and advancing multiple facets of both nations’ development agendas.
