AMMAN — Their Majesties King Abdullah and Queen Rania paid a surprise visit on Thursday to the young patients at the King Hussein Cancer Centre (KHCC) in the capital.
The visit marked the King’s 52nd birthday.
His Majesty spent some time with the children, checking on their situation and issuing directives to provide them with the best services.
Their Majesties also visited the intensive care unit at the KHCC.
King Abdullah hailed the formidable efforts exerted by the employees at the centre, which carries the name of a man who is in the hearts of all Jordanians — King Hussein, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.
His Majesty commended the “brave cancer patients”, describing them as models “for us all” and wishing them a speedy recovery.
The King gave the children and other cancer patients tablet computers as gifts.
The playroom at the centre was also provided with computers, pool tables and Lego toys as other presents from the Monarch to cover children’s needs within the KHCC’s Dreams Come True programme, which is implemented regularly to lift the spirits of young cancer patients.
“Just visited the children at the King Hussein Cancer Centre. Am truly humbled and inspired by their courage. May God always be with them,” the King tweeted on the Royal Court’s official account after the visit.
“Want to thank all the staff at the centre for their tireless efforts in caring for the patients and making it a global centre of excellence,” he wrote.
Formerly called “Al Amal Centre” — which means “The centre of hope” — the centre was inaugurated in 1997.
It is a non-governmental, not-for-profit comprehensive centre dedicated entirely to cancer care, according to the KHCC website.
On September 19, 2002, an official ceremony was held to change the name of the centre to honour the late King Hussein, who died of cancer.
“The new centre was thus named King Hussein Cancer Centre. The new name also implied full Royal support for this project.”
Work to build an expansion for the centre is under way, with the project expected to cost $186 million.
The expansion will more than double the centre’s current 170-bed capacity by adding another 200 beds.
Individuals and groups can donate for the expansion project by calling the KHCC at 06/5544960 or visiting www.cancerpledges.com.
