Addis Ababa, May 10, 2008 (BBC Monitoring via COMTEX) -- President Girma Woldegiorgis on Saturday [10 May] laid down a corner stone to a cancer referral hospital to be constructed at a cost of 130m dollars.

The hospital to be constructed in Sheno town, 80 km northeast of Addis [Ababa], is the first of its kind to be built in Ethiopia.

Speaking on the occasion, President Girma said the benefit the hospital would give to Ethiopians in the sector is beyond expression.

Besides preventing cancer, which is causing a great health damage globally, the construction of the hospital would have a great contribution to upgrade the skills of professionals in the field. [Passage omitted]

The construction of the hospital which would be launched on 68 hq of land is expected to be completed in the next five years. The hospital will have various facilities, including 400 beds with an up-to-date equipment, research centre and medical professionals' residential units.

While going fully operational, the hospital would cater services for 10,000 cancer patients in a year. [Passage omitted]

Source: ENA website, Addis Ababa, in English 10 May 08

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KEYWORD: ETHIOPIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: HEALTH

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