VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN

Working Day

15 february, 2012 15:47

On February 15, International Childhood Cancer Day, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin visits the Dima Rogachyov Federal Research and Clinical Centre of Children's Hematology, Oncology and Immunology

On February 15, International Childhood Cancer Day, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin visits the Dima Rogachyov Federal Research and Clinical Centre of Children's Hematology, Oncology and Immunology

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin inspected the clinical oncology department, where he was shown the most up-to-date MRI scanner. He was told that children are shown cartoons before undergoing various procedures. The animated characters show the young patients what to do during treatment.

Putin spoke with several children in the centre, including a seven year-old girl named Sonya from Pskov, whom he met for the first time during the centre's opening in June 2011. Sonya has been undergoing treatment in Moscow for four years now. She asked Putin to show her the Kremlin, to which the prime minister responded that if everything goes well with her health, he would be happy to arrange a tour of the Kremlin for her. "I invite you to come on May 9. We will celebrate Victory Day."

In the bone marrow transplant department Putin spoke with a 16 year-old patient who will undergo surgery in two or three weeks. He also talked with a small boy and parents of sick children from Obninsk, Kostroma, Volgograd and the Komi Republic. The parents of small patients live in a nearby boarding house, built especially for the hospital, while their children are staying in the centre.

The mother of Vanya, a small boy from Obninsk, said to Putin: "We all wanted to thank you for giving us hope that our children will survive." "It's not me. You should thank the doctors," Putin replied. "But we know that you have helped a lot in this respect," Vanya's mother said.

During his visit the prime minister took note of the church of Vera, Nadezhda, Lyubov (Faith, Hope and Charity) and their mother Sofia (Wisdom), built near the centre. Employees of the centre said they were planning to plant a garden in front of the church but ran out of money. "Okay, I get the hint," Putin said.

The centre's director Alexander Rumyantsev said it currently employs 138 doctors and 250 researchers. He is planning to hire another 120 doctors in spring.

The centre began admitting patients last January. It will reach its full capacity in May when it will be ready to receive up to 400 patients.

The prime minister was accompanied by actress Chulpan Khamatova, a co-founder of Grant Life, a fund that helps children with cancer, including the centre's patients.