Ethiopia to set up 5 specialized cancer treatment centers

ADDIS ABABA, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopian Ministry of Health on Sunday disclosed its plan to set up five specialized healthcare institutions exclusively for cancer related patients.

According to the ministry, the Ethiopian government has allocated close to 80 million U.S. dollars for the construction and establishment of the five specialized centers across the East African country.

The five healthcare institutions are said to provide specialized healthcare treatment for cancer related victims in Oromia, Amhara, Tigray and SNNP regional states, state news agency ENA quoted Ethiopian Ministry of Health officials as saying.

The five centers are under construction in Hawassa, Gonder, Mekelle, Jimma and Haramaya cities in the four regions.

Bisrat Desalegn, official at the Ethiopian ministry of health, said that the five centers, upon completion, will augment the current cancer related treatment capacity in the country, as Ethiopia presently relies on a single healthcare center for every caner related case.

Black Lion referral hospital, located in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, is the sole healthcare institution presently providing cancer treatment for Ethiopia's burgeoning population, which is estimated at 104 million.

The ministry further indicated that the construction of facilities and installation of equipment for the five centers will be finalized within the coming Ethiopian 2018-2019 fiscal year. Enditem