A medical center for children with cancer, built with MNT 51 billion raised by the Mongolian National Broadcaster through a program “Together against Crisis”, was handed over to the State on Thursday. The ceremony was attended by Minister for Health S.Lambaa; Minister for Education, Culture and Science Yo.Otgonbayar; MPs D.Arvin and D.Ochirbat; Mongolian Labor Union President S.Ganbaatar; MNB Executive Director M.Naranbat; National Center for Cancer Studies Director L.Tumurbaatar; and representatives of some big donors.

After the money had been raised, a council was formed with S.Ganbaatar, senior diplomat D.Tsakhilgaan and MNB board member S.Batzaya to monitor how it was spent. A tender was announced to build the center which has two fully equipped rooms with six beds, an intensive care unit, and an emergency care unit. The number of new cancer cases rose to 4,122 last from 3,500 in 2007. Most of the 109 children diagnosed in 2009 had blood, bone and brain cancer.

The chief doctor at the center, G.Odontuya, said she was happy that children now had a special place for them. “The National Cancer Center did not have special medical equipment for children. The new center does and we are confident of offering improved treatment to children,” she said. According to her, women’s use of alcohol and various kinds of medically uncertified contraceptives was causing children to show symptoms of cancer even before birth.

Ganbaatar thanked all donors and others who offered help for “thinking of others and not living selfishly”.