Dignitaries from Sweden and Jordan attended the inauguration of two of Elekta’s (EKTA-B.ST) cancer care technologies, including an advanced linear accelerator (linac) used to deliver radiation to treat people with cancer and a Leksell Gamma Knife® radiosurgery system, which is used to treat a range of neurosurgical and oncological brain indications. The ceremony was held on November 16 at King Hussein Cancer Center (KHCC) together with King Hussein Cancer Foundation in Amman.
 
Representing Elekta, Caroline Leksell Cooke, Member of Elekta’s Board of Directors and granddaughter of Professor Lars Leksell, inventor of the Gamma Knife, spoke of her pride in the company’s collaboration with health care facilities in Jordan and support to improve the lives of some of the 11,500 people diagnosed with cancer each year. “Today we are celebrating that this linac will allow for an additional 500 people with cancer to receive treatment annually. In addition, we are honored and proud that 50 years after Elekta was founded, Gamma Knife continues to lead the way in intracranial radiosurgery and bring hope to the more than 90,000 people treated globally every year with the technology.
           
“Elekta has always been committed to ensuring every patient has the best cancer care possible. Our strategy, Access 2025, has a focus on closing the access gap to radiation therapy. To support this strategy, we launched the Elekta Foundation, a philanthropic arm of Elekta focusing on raising awareness about cancer, training and education and cancer care infrastructure,” she added.
 
The first Elekta linac and Gamma Knife were installed in Jordan in 2005, with successive upgrades and new technology since. Today, a wide spectrum of cancer is managed with the country’s 15 Elekta linacs, two Gamma Knife systems, and brachytherapy solutions.
 
Their Majesties the King and Queen of Sweden, Her Royal Highness Princess Ghida Talal, who is Chairperson of KHCC, His Royal Highness Prince Talal bin Muhammad, Caroline Leksell Cooke, the Swedish Ambassador to Jordan H.E. Alexandra Rydmark, and Dr. Asem Mansour KHCC General Director, were among those attending the event.
 
The inauguration ceremony was part of a three-day state visit by Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia, together with Sweden’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E.Tobias Billström. During their visit, they will also pay tribute to the 40th anniversary of Sweden’s diplomatic presence in Jordan.