Groundbreaking for Pediatric Oncology Tower

Rain could not dampen the spirits of the hundreds who gathered today at Shanghai Children’s Medical Center to witness the ground breaking for a new 148-bed Oncology Tower.

The lifesaving care and resources the new tower will bring are greatly needed. Last year, the doctors and nurses at Shanghai Children’s Medical Center admitted and cared for more than 2,400 children with cancer. In addition, another 21,285 children with cancer were treated through the hospital on an outpatient basis.

The new seven-story Oncology Tower more than doubles the number of beds the Medical Center currently dedicates to cancer patients. Also, the new tower, which will be completed by 2012, will house research facilities to investigate new treatments and processes for improving care to children.

And thanks to a $1 million grant from Project HOPE partner Hospira, health professional training and the development of a palliative care program will begin immediately. A relatively new concept in China, palliative care will bring much needed physical and emotional support to children and their families addressing the tough challenges associated with cancer and its treatments.

Stuart Myers, Senior Vice President for Global Health at Project HOPE, said it best, “Despite the rain today, this is a bright day for the children of China.”

Story and photos by Rand Walton, HOPE's Director of Strategic Communications, now in China for the groundbreaking of the new Oncology Tower at Shanghai Children's Medical Center.

Oncology Tower Groundbreaking in China

It is about the children.

Today, there are more than 300 million children in China. Sadly, experts estimate that more than 45,000 children in China are diagnosed with cancer each year. At this rate, there are simply not enough resources on hand in China to meet the physical and emotional needs of children, and their families, suffering with cancer.

Fortunately, Project HOPE and long-time partner, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center, as well as Hospira, a global specialty pharmaceutical and medication delivery company, have the children’s best interests at heart.

Tomorrow, the three partners, the Shanghai City Government and other Chinese health institutions will break ground on a new Oncology Tower at the Shanghai Children’s Medical Center. The new tower will deliver many of the technologies, services and health professionals required to address this serious situation.

Just as Project HOPE assembled the right mix of dedicated volunteer doctors, nurses and corporate partners to establish and develop the world’s leading hospital in pediatric cardiac surgery (surgeons at SCMC performed more than 3,000 open-heart surgeries on children last year), HOPE and partners plan and expect to do the same to address childhood cancer in China.
The Shanghai Children’s Medical Center is already a leader in China in the care of children with cancer. More than 15,000 children went to the Medical Center for cancer treatment last year.

The new Oncology Tower will expand the Medical Center’s capabilities to meet the growing demand for care.

It is always about the children. I am proud of Project HOPE’s commitment to children around the world.

And while you cannot be with me tomorrow for the ground breaking in Shanghai, I will share with you the events of the day and give you an insider’s look into the much-needed Oncology Tower.

Story by Rand Walton, HOPE's Director of Strategic Communications, now in China for the groundbreaking of the new Oncology Tower at Shanghai Children's Medical Center.