First radiotherapy machine to treat cancer reaches NW Syria
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The first radiotherapy machine to treat cancer arrived in northwest Syria, a region that has lacked proper equipment to treat cancer patients, over the weekend, the UN’s aid coordination office (OCHA) said on Tuesday.
Hospitals in northwest Syria have not been able to provide radiotherapy sessions due to the lack of such machines, pushing Syrian cancer patients to depend on cross-border referrals to Turkey.
This comes after extensive advocacy efforts by the UN and its partners.
Since the Turkey-Syria earthquake on Feb. 6, which greatly affected northwest Syria, Turkey has placed obstacles in the way of Syrian cancer patients trying to enter Turkish territory for treatment.
In July, residents in northwest Syria protested Turkey’s refusal to allow Syrian cancer patients enter its territory.
The machine, which is installed in the largest hospital in the city of Afrin, can provide over 40 radiotherapy sessions a day. It is expected to be able to help one-third of all cancer patients in the region.
Briefing reporters in New York, UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric lauded the move as a “monumental step”.