His Majesty King Abdullah on Thursday 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 Centre.

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.

Royal Hashemite Court Chief Yousef Issawi, Health Minister Feras Al Hawari, Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority Chief Commissioner Nayef Al Fayez, and Aqaba Governor Khaled Hajjaj, as well as members of the board of trustees of the KHCF and KHCC, attended the ceremony.

The first phase of the project will be launched in the third quarter of 2024, with the four-storey building extending over an area of 6,738 square metres, 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 Centre 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.