Elekta to continue to help bring radiation treatment to developing countries with nonprofit organization Radiating Hope
September 24 2016 - 8:55AM
Business Wire
Long-term goal of collaboration will make radiotherapy
accessible for all patients regardless of geography
Today, Elekta (STO:EKTA B) announced that it has expanded its
partnership with Radiating
Hope (http://www.radiatinghope.org/), a volunteer organization
that provides radiation equipment to resource-constrained countries
and educates medical physics and radiation oncology personnel in
those countries to help better serve their patient populations.
Radiating Hope believes that no patient should be denied
potentially life-saving treatment simply because the technology is
not affordable. Consequently, it cooperates with hospitals and
clinics around the world to take care of their replaced equipment,
refurbish the machine and then ship it to a developing country.
Funds are raised through a number of mountain climbing events, with
diverse destinations including Mt. Rainier, Mt. Kilimanjaro and
Everest Base Camp. Proceeds go toward the purchasing or
refurbishing of radiation equipment for use in developing
countries.
“Radiating Hope has a mission to improve cancer care,
specifically radiation oncology care in areas of the world where
treatment can be hard to find,” says Tom Ladd, Executive Director
of Radiating Hope. “We are very grateful for the support and
partnership of Elekta in helping us to fulfill our mission. With
Elekta’s guidance and involvement, Radiating Hope has been able to
place radiation machines and equipment in Senegal, Tanzania,
Guatemala, Honduras and Panama. The stronger partnership with
Elekta will allow Radiating Hope to continue to support the areas
of need in which we are engaged, particularly in Latin America and
Africa. We look forward to working and partnering with Elekta for
many years to come in order to bring needed treatment where, today,
there is none.”
Focus on making equipment accessible to underserved regions
A recent publication in Lancet Oncology* estimates that a global
scale-up of radiotherapy capacity in 2015–35 from current levels
could lead to saving of 26.9 million life-years in low-income and
middle-income countries over the lifetime of the patients who
received treatment.
“We are so pleased to be strengthening our partnership with
Radiating Hope, to further Elekta’s commitment to improving
radiation therapy care for underserved patient populations in
developing countries,” says Rachel White, Head of Corporate Brand
Management for Elekta. “By expanding our partnership activities
into Latin America, we aim to replicate the tremendous successes
from our 2010 donation of a brachytherapy afterloader at the
Institut Curie in Dakar, Senegal, which enabled thousands of
Senegalese women with cervical cancer to receive treatment.”
In 2016, Ashley Cogswell, Director of Software Sales for Elekta,
climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro with Radiating
Hope (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvqXFR9X3Pw), raising
more than $16,000.
"When I heard about Radiating Hope and the work they were doing,
I immediately knew I had to get involved,” says Cogswell. “I was so
inspired by the thought that a small group of determined and caring
people could eventually change the course of cancer care in
developing countries throughout the world. They are fulfilling a
need that most people thought wasn't possible. How amazing is that?
Although the thought of climbing Kilimanjaro was terrifying, I knew
it paled in comparison to all the men, women and children who have
cancer, but have no access to treatment or medicine. This is why I
climbed, and this is why I will continue to climb with Radiating
Hope."
Learn more about Radiating Hope at: www.radiatinghope.org.
*Atun R, Jaffray DA, Barton MB, et al. Expanding global access
to radiotherapy. Lancet Oncol. 2015;16(10):1153-86.
About Elekta
Elekta is a human care company pioneering significant
innovations and clinical solutions for treating cancer and brain
disorders. The company develops sophisticated, state-of-the-art
tools and treatment planning systems for radiation therapy,
radiosurgery and brachytherapy, as well as workflow enhancing
software systems across the spectrum of cancer care. Stretching the
boundaries of science and technology, providing intelligent and
resource-efficient solutions that offer confidence to both health
care providers and patients, Elekta aims to improve, prolong and
even save patient lives.
Today, Elekta solutions in oncology and neurosurgery are used in
over 6,000 hospitals worldwide. Elekta employs around 3,600
employees globally. The corporate headquarters is located in
Stockholm, Sweden, and the company is listed on the Nordic Exchange
under the ticker STO:EKTAB. Website: www.elekta.com.
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For further information, please contact:Gert van Santen, Group
Vice President Corporate Communications, Elekta ABTel: +31 653 561
242, e-mail: gert.vansanten@elekta.comTime zone: CET: Central
European TimeRaven Canzeri, Global Public Relations Manager,
ElektaTel: +1 770-670-2524, e-mail: raven.canzeri@elekta.comTime
zone: ET: Eastern Time