Princely Activities
Saturday 15 February 2014

HRH Princess Lalla Salma Visits 'House Of Future' In Rabat

HRH Princess Lalla Salma Visits 'House Of Future' In Rabat

 HRH Princess Lalla Salma, Chairwoman of the Lalla Salma Foundation for Cancer Prevention and Treatment paid a visit on Saturday to the House of the Future (Maison de L'Avenir) in Rabat.

The renovation of the House of the Future cost some 2.2 million dirhams, including a contribution of MAD 1mln paid by the Lalla Salma Foundation.

   Other contributors include the National Investment Company Akwa lmmo Development Group, CDG Foundation, Morocco Telecom, and Rotaract Settat.

   In a statement to MAP, minister of health, Houcine El Ouardi said "the renovation of this house is part of a partnership between the ministry and the Lalla Salma Foundation for Cancer Prevention and Treatment."

   The House of the Future offers accommodation for children with cancer and their families, El Ouardi said.

   After 2009, "we have increased the budget for cancer medicine that exceeds 340 million dirhams a year," he said, noting the increased interest in cancer, through the inauguration of community treatment centers.

   The house, founded in 1995, has provided great services to families living far from Rabat with a child being treated for cancer at the Children's Hospital of Rabat. It has improved the living conditions of families and patients, and reduced treatment and follow-up drop-out rates.

   The facility has 22 rooms (54 beds), a games room, lounges, a kitchen, a dining room, and a garden. It hosts an average of 600 families per year, and provides children and families with a place to stay, food, transportation, recreation for a symbolic sum of 10 DH per night.

   The two regions that are represented the most are Tanger-Tetouan and El Gharb- Chrarda Beni Hsein, followed by parts of the eastern region and Taza -Al Hoceima- Taounate.

   The number of overnight stays in 2012 reached about 14,000, while the average occupancy rate was 75 per cent and the average length of stay is 10 days. The average number of family trips per year is 5.