Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zain El-Abedeen, President of Ain Shams University, inaugurated a number of important development projects at Ain Shams Specialized Hospital, as part of Ain Shams University’s efforts to improve the level of health and medical services, which included developing and establishing a unit for muscle and peripheral nerve diseases, developing a blood bank unit, developing internal roads in the hospital, developing the general site of the outpatient clinics street, and developing dental clinics.
The inaugurations were attended by Prof. Awad Tag El-Din, Advisor to the President of the Republic for Health and Prevention; Prof. Ali Al-Anwar, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Chairman of the Board of University Hospitals; Prof. Tarek Youssef, Executive Director of University Hospitals; Prof. Hisham Anwar, Director of Ain Shams Specialized Hospital; Prof. Ahmed Zaki Badr, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of October 6 University and former University President; Dr. Hassan Shaker, former Director of Ain Shams Specialized Hospital; Dr. Haitham Abdel Azim, Deputy Director of the Hospital; Dr. Mohamed Abdel Razek, Medical Director; Prof. Nagia Ali, Director of the Muscle and Peripheral Nerve Diseases Unit; and a group of department heads.
In his speech, Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zain El-Abedeen emphasized that Ain Shams University is managed based on institutional principles that ensure the continuity and development of work through the integration of successive administrations. He highlighted the pioneering role the university plays in providing exceptional medical services, considering its contributions a significant milestone in the field of healthcare. He also pointed out the university's ability to face challenges and overcome obstacles, praising the efforts exerted in Ain Shams University Hospitals to achieve these accomplishments.
He added that these projects are part of the university's strategy to develop the healthcare sector and enhance the role of university hospitals in providing outstanding medical services to the community, commending the efforts made to improve the healthcare system.
Dr. Hisham Anwar reviewed the development efforts in several projects at Ain Shams University Hospitals, with a total cost of 77 million EGP, reflecting the commitment to elevating the standard of medical services provided. These efforts highlight the university's dedication to delivering healthcare services that align with the highest global standards.
He also presented several future projects, including the development and establishment of reservation windows, the development of the Endoscopy Unit, and the creation and enhancement of the Physical Medicine Unit.
He expressed gratitude to the university president for his continuous support of the hospitals, praising the role of the senior management in achieving these accomplishments. He also commended the efforts of the project consultants, all staff members, supporting personnel, and department managers.
He explained that the inaugurations coincide with the 45th anniversary of the hospital's opening, highlighting its establishment history and contribution to enhancing the healthcare system. The hospital remains a prominent medical institution embodying the values of dedication and service to the community. The celebration also featured a documentary video showcasing the hospital's history and its pioneering role over the past decades.
The President of University and the attendees inaugurated the newly developed units, including the completion of the Blood Bank modernization project. This project involved equipping the bank with the latest devices and advanced technologies to meet the needs of patients and surgical operations with greater efficiency and safety, additionally, the project enhanced the internal infrastructure, providing a comfortable environment that encourages donors to contribute. It also focused on training medical staff and promoting voluntary blood donation.
These units have become essential elements for achieving self-sufficiency in blood. A new unit will soon be established within the blood bank, the first of its kind, so that the role of the blood bank unit is not limited to changing therapeutic plasma only, but other services are added such as: changing red blood cells and removing white blood cells, collecting stem cells, separating fats and optical separation, with the participation of doctors from different specialties (hematology - kidney - neurology - blood transfusion and clinical pathology) so that the unit will be the first of its kind in the Arab Republic of Egypt to provide all these services in one place, as it includes doctors from different medical specialties to provide all services in one place.
The inauguration also included the Center for Muscle and Peripheral Nerve Diseases, which plays a crucial role in addressing the growing number of patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). With the emergence of new treatments, including gene therapy, the need for specialized centers to treat such conditions has increased. Ain Shams Specialized Hospital was one of the pioneers in establishing this center, thanks to the efforts of the late Prof. Hani Aref, Professor of Neurology, and Prof. Nagia Ali, the unit director. The center aims to provide comprehensive and integrated care for patients with muscular dystrophy at all stages of their lives, striving to improve and develop treatment methods. It delivers exceptional care to enhance patients' physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Additionally, the center fosters scientific research and develops new treatments for muscular dystrophy by collaborating with researchers and specialized institutions within and outside Egypt, also focuses on raising awareness about muscular dystrophy, educating the community on the importance of early diagnosis and effective treatment, and supporting patients and their families through psychological and social support programs, as well as providing educational and professional resources.
The center includes many specialized clinics for treating and rehabilitating these patients, such as the Musculoskeletal and Neurological Diseases Clinic, the Genetic Counseling Clinic, the Functional Evaluation Clinic, the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Clinic, the Child and Adult Psychiatry Clinic, the Children and Neonatology Clinic, the Spinal Muscular Atrophy Patient Follow-up Clinic, the Duchenne Muscular Atrophy Patient Follow-up Clinic, the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patient Follow-up Clinic, the Cardiac Care Clinic, the Functional Evaluation and Physical Medicine Clinic, the Limb and Spine Deformities Clinic, and the Therapeutic Nutrition Clinic.
In addition to providing a number of diagnostic services, including functional assessment of patients using all necessary tests before treatment, as well as periodic assessment of cases during and after treatment, as well as nerve conduction studies, muscle conduction studies, various muscle weakness tests, ultrasound on muscles and peripheral nerves, muscle samples with chemical and immunological staining, nerve samples with electron microscopic examination, psychological tests necessary to assess patients, assessment of swallowing functions using video fluoroscopy, and magnetic resonance imaging of the muscles of the whole body.
The center also provides therapeutic services such as day care, as well as a gene injection unit in the internal department, noting that this treatment costs huge amounts and the hospital seeks to find permanent support to continue this type of treatment, which is supported by the state through many presidential initiatives in order to reintegrate these patients into society, as well as Botox injections in cases of muscle stiffness and nerve congestion.
The developments also included replacement and renewal of all networks on the roads and internal corridors of the hospital, as well as developing the main road network around the hospital to facilitate the movement of patients and visitors and ensure their easy access to the various departments of the hospital.
The development was divided into three phases, and the renovation was carried out without stopping work due to the presence of many entrances and exits, due to the good foundation of the hospital from the beginning, thanks to the efforts of the former heads of Ain Shams Specialized Hospitals and the university administration.
The first phase of the outpatient clinics was also developed, which achieved a qualitative leap in improving the treatment environment for patients and providing a more comfortable and efficient experience.
The second phase of the development of the general site of the hospital was also opened, which included improving the facilities and infrastructure surrounding the hospital, and the main roads.
Dental clinics developments were also opened to provide distinguished medical treatment services to dental patients in cooperation with the Faculty of Dentistry, at Ain Shams University, with 5 rooms equipped for dental treatment.