Volunteers at CCCL
learn about cancer and patient care
Fifty new volunteers at the Children Cancer Center of Lebanon (CCCL) attended a one day workshop on October 11 to learn more about cancer and the proper ways to handle patients afflicted with it.
This workshop, which took place in SB 101 of the medical center, will be held by CCCL once every three months this year.
 CCCL Medical Director and Professor of Pediatrics at AUBMC Miguel R. Abboud introduced the participants to the various types of cancer and their corresponding treatments. "There are five main methods to treat cancer depending on its severity and its stage of development. These include chemotherapy, surgery, limb salvage surgery, bone marrow transplantation, and radiotherapy," said Dr. Abboud who ended his presentation by giving an overview of the organization of the center. Dr. Abboud responded to participants' questions on the disease and its symptoms.
Christiane Makarem, Director of Volunteers, also exposed the participants to some of the major medical regulations by which volunteers have to abide. "There are many ways to volunteer... you can do that by donating blood, conducting entertainment activities, and helping out in the teaching program available at the center," added Makarem.
Officer Mazen Yehya of occupational safety explained how to implement safety measures in the event of a fire and other emergencies such as bomb threats, child or infant abductions, thefts, stocking, spills of hazardous material, and disasters. Yehya provided emergency numbers to call in the case of each of the above emergencies.
In addition to addressing issues of hygiene, treatment, and safety, the workshop targeted topics of patient rights at the center. "[Only] AUBMC staff who are involved in patient care in the clinical and clinical-support services [can] have access to patient information," said Lisa Sekelian, Accreditation Reviewer, while discussing patient rights to privacy -- one of the most integral rights for patients.
The workshop ended with some training on infection control methods which are strictly followed at the center. "Hand hygiene is the SINGLE most important procedure for preventing nosocomial transmission of infections," said Nisrine Sidani, the Infection Control Officer at AUBMC. Sidani also highlighted the proper ways to disinfect toys and utensils that might spread germs and bacteria.
 Maya Romanos, a volunteer who attended the workshop, described it as very helpful in many ways. "At first, I was afraid to deal with the patients, since they are extremely vulnerable and weak... But after learning about the disease and how to handle patients, I feel more comfortable and confident that I will be able to do it properly."
Nonetheless, Romanos, who finds the experience of volunteering at CCCL very rewarding, thinks that "even though Dr. Abboud's instructions are very helpful, one learns more while working on the ground with the patients, since each of their cases is an exception and needs to be addressed differently."
To date, more than 500 people volunteered at CCCL.
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