Patients evacuated, relocated after Hussein Hospital massive fire

CAIRO – 8 July 2018: Patients, evacuated from al-Hussein University Hospital in Old Cairo after massive fires erupted at the building on Saturday, will be transported to Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan Hospital to continue their treatment, according to Health Minister Hala Zayed.

Video showing patients transferred from El-Hussein Hospital after the fire



Minister Zayed said Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan Hospital will be ready to receive medical crew and patients of al-Hussein Hospital until the required maintenance of the hospital is completed.

Al-Hussein University Hospital is owned by al-Azhar University; it is funded and supervised by al-Azhar institution.

In a press statement, the minister assured that the stock of medicines and medical supplies at Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan Hospital was increased to cover the needs of all patients, including the referred ones. She further noted that the hospital is fully prepared to undergo surgical operations and follow-up on the transferred cases. This comes as part of the cooperation between al-Azhar University and the Ministry of Health to improve the medical services provided for the citizens, said the statement.

The Civil Defense Department thwarted the fire that broke out in four floors of the hospital with the help of 12 fire trucks and dozens of firefighters.

Although the work at the hospital was halted and patients were evacuated after the fire broke out, the emergency department has resumed its work shortly after the fire was put off.

No deaths announced

A huge blaze broke out at four floors of al-Hussein University Hospital in Cairo on Saturday, leaving three people injured, while all patients at the hospital were evacuated immediately.

An elderly man at the hospital was announced dead while being transferred from al-Hussein Hospital; however, President of al-Azhar University Mohamed al-Mehresawy assured that his death has nothing to do with the fire.

The family of the dead man has not blamed the death on the fire, according to local news outlets. The prosecution ordered the body of the deceased to be sent to be examined by the Forensic Authority to stand on the causes of his death.

A total of 117 patients were admitted to other hospitals, accordingly: 107 patients went to Bab el-Sheireya Hospital, seven to al-Zahraa’ Hospital, one patient to Cairo Fatimid Hospital and two others went to Mounira General hospital.

Medics and citizens collaborate to evacuate the patients from al-Hussein University Hospital after massive fires broke out on July 7, 2018 - Egypt Today/By Khaled Kamel

Medics and citizens collaborate to evacuate the patients from al-Hussein University Hospital after massive fires broke out on July 7, 2018 - Egypt Today/By Khaled Kamel

The minister said that medical teams of different specialties were sent to all hospitals receiving evacuated patients.

Probe into the fire

President of al-Azhar University Mehresawy said that a technical committee was assigned from Faculty of Engineering at the university to examine the validity of the building of al-Hussein Hospital after the fire.

“The university is waiting for the final report to be issued by the public prosecution on the causes of the fire, and there will be deterrent action taken if any negligence or corruption were proven to be the cause of the blaze,” added Mehresawy.

The initial examination pointed out to a short circuit that launched fires at the ophthalmology department and extended to the three other floors, while al-Azhar University denied in an official statement any deaths caused by the incident.

The Grand Imam of al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayyib directed al-Azhar leaders to provide the hospital’s patients with the necessary aid, and to launch an immediate investigation to know the reason behind the fire and to hold the responsible accountable.