Thursday, His Majesty King Abdullah II on laid the foundation stone for the King Hussein Cancer Centre’s (KHCC) King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein Building in Aqaba.

The facility will provide medical care to cancer patients in the southern governorates, instead of having to head to Amman to seek the proper care.

King Abdullah, accompanied by Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah, listened to remarks by Her Royal Highness Princess Ghida Talal, chairperson of the board of trustees of the King Hussein Cancer Foundation and Center.

Speaking at a ceremony to mark the laying of the foundation stone, Her Royal Highness thanked His Majesty for his ongoing support for the KHCC and KHCF.

The first phase of the project will be launched in the third quarter of 2024, with the four-story building extending over an area of 6,738 square meters, and employing 90 medical and supporting staff members.

The KHCC’s Aqaba facility will provide comprehensive medical services to cancer patients, including early detection, chemo and radiation therapy, laboratories, colonoscopy, pain management, a pharmacy, and home care.

Establishing the Aqaba project is in line with the KHCC’s vision to bolster its role as a national institution for cancer treatment.

The project is part of the KHCC’s expansion plan, which also included the inauguration of the Samih Darwazah Oncology Center at Al Bashir Hospital in 2021.

More facilities are also planned around the KHCC headquarters in Amman, such as a centre for cancer patients, a radiation therapy facility, outpatient clinics, and research laboratories.