Action Against Cancer: launch of Alice House
04 February 2017
The Sylvia Bongo Foundation for the Family officially launched Alice House on 4 February 2017.It is a living space built alongside the Libreville Cancer Institute (ICL), and designed to welcome those receiving outpatient treatment at the ICL, who have experienced difficulties accessing accommodation or transport.
The ceremony was organised to coincide with World Cancer Day on 4 February. Cancer is a disease which seems to affect the women of Gabon particularly. We are committed to fighting this disease actively.
Alice House was named after the first patient to be treated for cancer at the ICL and is a leading project for the Foundation.
Its aim is to support patients on the road to recovery, ensuring that treatment is followed without interruption and to completion.
In 2013, 20% of patients failed to regularly follow treatment due to a lack of financial means, accommodation or reliable transport.
The inauguration was an opportunity for the Sylvia Bongo Ondimba Foundation to thank Princess Lalla Salma’s Foundation, as well as all contributors who enable Alice House to fully perform its function for those suffering from cancer, through varied forms of aid.
Patients are given free full board accomodation which enables them to receive personalised psychological and social support from healthcare staff 24/7; a variety of additional support treatments will soon be available (acupuncture, beauty, music and art therapies) to help patients to better cope with the illness and to improve their chances of recovery.