Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) built an Oncology Rehabilitation Center in the National Cancer Center of the Ministry of Health of Mongolia, where 100,000 people get examined each year, in order to raise public awareness about cancer, provide accurate information to patients, and reduce psychological breakdowns during cancer treatment.

Built and furnished by TİKA, the Oncology Rehabilitation Center in the National Cancer Center of Mongolia was inaugurated. The Center will serve an average of 16,000 patients each year. At the center, patients will be rehabilitated by psychologists through activities such as painting, handicrafts, music, chess, checkers, and the national game of knucklebones.

The inauguration was attended by Deputy Minister of Health of Mongolia L. Byambasuren, the Republic of Turkey’s Ambassador to Ulaanbaatar M. Ahmet Yazal, TİKA Ulaanbaatar Program Coordinator Emrah Ustaömer, Director General of the National Cancer Center J. Çinburen, Director General of the National Social Health Center D. Narantuya, and hospital staff.

In her speech at the inauguration ceremony, L.Byambasuren, Deputy Minister of Health of Mongolia, said, “At the Oncology Rehabilitation Center, patients will not only get the health advice they need and be informed about cancer, but also get out of the hospital environment even a little and feel at home. I think this positive psychological effect will strengthen them for their fights against their disease. I would like to thank Turkey and TİKA for implementing this beautiful project.”

“We will be proud if we can touch even a single life”

The Republic of Turkey’s Ambassador to Ulaanbaatar M. Ahmet Yazal said, “I am happy to attend the inauguration ceremony of this beautiful health project, which is one of the most meaningful projects implemented by TİKA. Psychological support is as important as medical treatment for patients. We will be proud if we can touch even a single life. This was not the first project implemented by TİKA, and it will not be the last one, either. We will also inaugurate 3 health centers in the future.”

TİKA Ulaanbaatar Program Coordinator Emrah Ustaömer stated that they built this oncology rehabilitation center to raise awareness about cancer and create a different environment to keep patients and their relatives away from the stressful hospital environment. He added that patients can listen to piano, paint, watch TV, do needlework, and play games such as chess and knucklebones, thanks to this project.

TİKA has implemented 66 health projects in Mongolia since 2004.