Mersal is a non-profit social entrepreneurship initiative that aims to improve the quality of life of Egypt's underprivileged by tackling community socio-economic problems and healthcare issues at their roots. It was established a year ago, and since then it has touched the lives of more than 100,000 patients. Mersal says that it has no political or religious affiliations. It is sometimes said that charity is all about doing good for oneself first and then for one's local community, and is often associated with higher levels of health and happiness. Despite the current economic upheavals and political unrest, volunteers are still doing good in the everyday lives of ordinary people. “Waiting lists must be radically shrunk,” says Heba Rashed, a founder of Mersal. She was speaking of efforts to establish a new medical centre specialising in oncology after a marked increase of cancer cases in Egypt. The capacity of existing hospitals is unable to accommodate the large numbers of patients suffering from cancer, she says, explaining the drive to establish the Mersal Centre. The first phase of the new medical centre in Cairo cost some LE2 million. Patients of all ages and from anywhere in the country will be treated at the facility. It aims to carry out some 24,000 medical examinations and biopsies a year and 7,000 courses of chemotherapy and to support other clinics through its highly qualified staff. The oncology centre carries out private treatment along with free medical care for low-income families, as well as all-inclusive aftercare. A second phase is planned that will also cost some LE2 million. Mersal offers an integrated health insurance system to low-income patients in all specialties. The programme includes diagnosis, examinations, drugs for chronic and other diseases, as well as surgery, prosthetic devices and wheelchairs. “Specialisation is the key,” says Rashed. This is why Mersal has built the Mersal Academy, she adds, which offers project management and other skills at reasonable tuition fees and with the help of highly skilled and experienced instructors. The Mersal Academy aims to help young people launch their own projects and make them as successful as they are in their dreams, she says. The writer is a freelance journalist.
