The Arab African International Bank's (AAIB) foundation, "We Owe it to Egypt", announced on Monday its success reducing waiting lists in the National Cancer Institute's Breast Cancer department. The Foundation also announced at the Monday press conference that patient waiting lists were also reduced in the Neurosurgery and Cardiac Catheterisation departments in the Abou El-Reesh Paediatrics Hospital. The press conference was attended by the Foundation's Board of Trustees and a panel of representatives from Abou El-Reesh Hospitals, Ain Shams University Hospitals and El-Zeitoun Specialised Hospital. The AAIB set up the project to eliminate patient waiting lists in hospitals, include: Abou El-Reesh Hospitals, Ain Shams University Hospitals, the National Cancer Institute and El-Zeitoun Specialised Hospital. Long waiting lists have been a dilemma for patients in need of operations, with some patients dying before reaching the operating table. A documentary for patients was presented at the press conference, recounting patient success stories and illustrating the reduction in waiting lists. Hassan Abdallah, Chairman and Founder of "We Owe it to Egypt", said the foundation aims at directing all efforts to eliminate patient waiting lists in hospitals. Dina Abdelkader, Executive Advisor of the Foundation, said its role is not limited to providing project funding, but also includes regular checkups on the patients. It also aims to abide by international quality standards providing quality of service through required equipment and personnel. Abdelkader added there is no specific budget assigned to the project, with funding provided depending on patient priority. "We owe it to Egypt" was established by AAIB in 2007 as part of the Corporate Social Responsibility programme. The Bank sponsors all the Foundation's administrative and overhead costs. It aims to promote better quality of life through the creation of centres of excellence in health and education. The foundation looks to establish a credible system for mobilising and channelling resources towards the health sector.
