C.H.I.L.D. - Medical Assistance
C.H.I.L.D provides medical equipment and
supplies as well as shelter to children fighting
cancer in Oroumieh.
Omid Cancer Center 
Background:
Cancer is very prevalent in the West
Azerbaijan. This region, which borders Turkey,
Iraq, Azerbaijan and Armenia, is not
economically well-developed and per capita
income is relatively low in relation to most
other parts. Therefore, many patients do not
have the financial means to pay for expensive
cancer treatment.
To help these patients, Omid Cancer Center
was founded approximately 15 years ago by
several physicians from Oroumieh Medical
University and a small group of local community
members as a non-governmental organization (NGO)
in Oroumieh, the capital of West Azerbaijan.
CHILD continues to provide medicine and food
supplies for the patients of this foundation.
Some of the key goals of Omid foundation are
as follows:
- Provide free diagnosis and treatment to
cancer patients who cannot financially
afford it.
- Conduct research in cancer diagnosis,
treatment, and risk factors in this region.
- Educate public about cancer prevention
and importance of early diagnosis.
- Provide free mammography and other
health related matters relating to cancer
Here are some statistics on how this center
has helped cancer patients in the past:
- Provided radiotherapy treatment for more
than 4,300 cancer patients.
- Provided chemotherapy treatment for more
than 23,000 cancer patients.
- More than 26,000 cancer patients have
been admitted to or visited this center.
- Provided mammography for more than 1,650
women.
- Gave financial support, equivalent to
$50,000 to help needy families who travel to
the center from outside of the city.
- Volunteer members have carried out
several research activities and findings
have been presented in different scientific
and medical gatherings.
- Organized many community programs for
cancer awareness, cultural, scientific, and
other social activities
Since more than 60% of financially
disadvantaged patients come from neighboring
cities, provinces, and even from neighboring
countries, there is an urgent need to build a
30-40 unit complex to house patients during
their treatment and recovery. Most of these
patients are unable to pay to stay in local
hotels. In some instances, because of their
illness, hotels do not accept them.
The estimated cost of building this complex
is $350,000.
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