President Pays Traditional Christmas Visit to Children’s Cancer Treatment Ward

Bratislava, 24 December (TASR) - President Peter Pellegrini and Health Minister Kamil Sasko (Voice-SD) paid a Christmas visit to the Children's Hematology and Cancer Treatment Clinic at the Comenius University's Medical Faculty and the National Institute of Children's Diseases (NUDCH) in Bratislava on Tuesday (23 December). On the occasion, the president thanked the medical staff and all those for whom helping others, including the sick, even during the holidays is a mission. "Not everyone is so lucky that they can sit down at the Christmas Eve table with their families. I personally paid the so-called Christmas visit to the cancer treatment department for the third time. Children with the most serious diagnoses are treated here, spending here not days, not weeks, but many of them several months or even years," said Pellegrini. He also praised the gradual reconstruction of the clinic's premises, thanks to which the wards for both young and old children have been modernised and the staff have been providing them with top-notch care and the latest treatment. "Despite the difficult diagnoses, you can feel positive energy from these premises. The staff creates an environment here that helps children and parents cope with long and demanding periods of treatment," stated the president, also highlighting the courage of the child patients, whom he described as strong fighters. Sasko called the NUDCH paediatric hematology and cancer treatment ward one of the flagships. With his visit, he wanted to express his elementary respect and gratitude to doctors and medical staff, as they often also fulfil the role of parents and not only care for paediatric patients, but also support their parents and loved ones. The minister also spoke about a new children's faculty hospital that should be built near the General Milan Rastislav Stefanik National University Hospital in Bratislava's borough of Vajnory. ko