Cancer Institute to resume full operation after Eid el-Adha

CAIRO - 7 August 2019: The National Cancer Institute will resume full operation after Eid el-Adha, Chairman Hatem Abou El Kassem told Egypt Today, stating that the institute currently works at half capacity as patients are served at clinics, and chemotherapy and radiotherapy units.

Restoration works started a few hours after the explosion that hit the institute’s building late on August 4, and they are taking place in operating theatres and waiting halls. Aboul Kassem said on August 7 that patients who were transferred to other hospitals will return after Eid, and that some parts of the building will be fully restored within 30-45 days.


Workers participating in the restoration works of the National Cancer Institute after hit by explosion. August 7, 2019. Egypt Today/Amr Mostafa

Although many public figures announced donating to the institute, Aboul Kassem revealed that funds from only two donations have been officially received, in addition to some other amounts. The official added that some firms volunteered to paint the building.

The institute’s building was damaged by an explosion that killed 22 and injured 47. None of the patients or medical staff members was harmed. However, the patients have been moved to other hospitals.

The explosion occurred because of a car that contained explosives and drove wrong-way to crash into three other cars in front of the building. The car was on its way to launch a terror attack elsewhere. The Ministry of Interior held Hasm terror group responsible for the incident. Hasm, Arabic for decisiveness, is affiliated with the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. The statement did not reveal further details regarding the terrorist attack Hasm was planning to do.