National Bank of Egypt (NBE) has announced the opening of the cyclotron unit at Shefaa Al Orman Hospitals in Luxor, the largest and first unit of its kind in Upper Egypt, in cooperation with the Shefaa Al Orman Foundation. The opening was attended by Dr. Maya Morsy, Minister of Social Solidarity; Dr. Manal Awad, Minister of Local Development and Environment; Eng. Abdel Muttalib Emara, Governor of Luxor; Ghada Tawfik, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt; Dina Abou Taleb, Head of the Marketing and Community Development Group at NBE; and Dr. Khaled El Nouri, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Shefaa Al Orman Foundation, along with a number of leaders and officials from the relevant bodies.

The opening of the cyclotron unit is a strong example of effective partnership between the state, the banking sector and civil society institutions. The project also embodies the concept of health equity by making the latest diagnostic and treatment technologies available to cancer patients in Upper Egypt. Providing this advanced technology within Upper Egypt helps ease the burden on patients and their families and reduces the need to travel long distances for specialized medical services, as investing in health services is a direct investment in people and their quality of life.

The opening is also part of NBE's national role in supporting development projects with a sustainable impact, and reflects the importance of integrating the efforts of state institutions, the banking sector and civil society to deliver projects capable of making a tangible, lasting difference. It represents a qualitative addition to the healthcare system in Upper Egypt.

Through its contributions to the cyclotron unit, NBE has sought to bring the latest medical technologies to Upper Egypt, helping improve the quality of health services provided to citizens and easing the burden on patients and their families. The unit can produce the short-lived radioactive isotopes used in advanced medical scans, supporting accurate diagnosis, early detection of tumors and monitoring of patients' response to treatment.

NBE's community development strategy focuses on supporting development projects with a sustainable impact, based on the bank's belief that its social role is not limited to providing support but extends to actively taking part in sustainable national development projects that make a real difference to citizens' lives. The unit is an important addition to the healthcare system in Upper Egypt, given the advanced capabilities it offers in accurate diagnosis and early detection of tumors, allowing patients to receive advanced medical services close to where they live and sparing them and their families the burden of travelling for treatment outside the governorate. NBE places the health sector at the top of its community development priorities, based on the importance of investing in people, and relies on specialized field studies to ensure the desired impact on citizens.