International Childhood Cancer Awareness Day
Correspondent | Tuesday February 21, 2017 14:40
It was an opportunity to show support for childhood cancer warriors and survivors around the world and their families, as well as to honour the memories of those children whose young lives were cut short all too soon by childhood cancer.
Every year, thousands of children across the world are diagnosed with cancer, an often life threatening illness that remains the leading cause of death by disease for children under the age of 15. With access to quality care, more than 80% of children with cancer can survive, living full and healthy lives. However, many children in low-income and middle-income countries do not receive or complete care, and, as a result, over 90% of childhood cancer deaths occur in low resource settings.
Botswana is no exception; we have cancer related cases among children which are on the rise. The causes of paediatric/childhood cancer are still largely unknown, and though new discoveries are resulting in new treatments, this heartbreaking disease continues to scar families and communities in ways that may never fully heal. September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, a time to honour and remember children and families affected by these rare diseases, and help rally support to give children with cancer better outcomes by supporting the world-wide ground-breaking researches in coming up with better treatments and ultimately the cure. During this month, the Cancer Association of Botswana (CAB) and its affiliates focus on raising cancer awareness in schools.
A global response is needed to give every child the best chance of surviving cancer free – to raise awareness, improve access, better understand why and where children are diagnosed with cancer through cancer registries, and offer the best possible treatment, palliative care and support for children and their families.
WHO has expanded the WHO Model Lists of Essential Medicines with additional medicines to treat childhood and adult cancers,
( http://www.who.int/cancer/ iccd_2016/en/ ). This year, 2017, CAB is partnering with Ladies Circle Botswana to fundraise to build paediatric facility in Gaborone. The facility will provide psychosocial support for the patients and their caregivers which will equip them with better coping skills.
The dedicated Paediatric Oncology programme at Princess Marina Hospital began in 2007 with the support of Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Cancer and Haematology Centre. The programme has seen tremendous growth over the last three years, with approximately 50 new cancer diagnoses per year during this time period.
Ladies Circle was formed in Botswana in 1980 and accommodates women aged between 18-45 years. The non-profit organisation subscribes to the same aims and objectives of Ladies Circle International, which is to assist in community service and also build friendships.
All of our community projects are financed through private individual donations as well as fund raising events. The Motto of the Organisation is “Friendship And Service”.