Childhood cancer survivors are calling on the public to assist Lifeline for Childhood Cancer Ghana with funds to help increase access to optimal treatment to cure children suffering from various types of cancers.
Lifeline for Childhood Cancer, Ghana (LCCG) is a nonprofit organization that seeks to provide treatment and care for children with cancer aside raising funds for the victims and their families.
The affected children will also benefit from effective palliative care through the foundation.
According to a report by LCCG, 300,000 children are diagnosed with cancer every year. Approximately 80 per cent of the world population of children living with cancer are from low middle-income countries where more than 80 per cent die of the disease.
In Ghana, even though there is no comprehensive epidemiological data on the magnitude of childhood cancers, it is estimated that about 1 in 500 children will be affected by 15 years of age.
This is according to evaluation data from more developed countries.
Most cancers, frequently diagnosed at the Paediatric Cancer Unit, are lymphomas, leukaemia, kidney cancers, and eye cancers.
Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi are the only hospitals having comprehensive Paediatric Cancer Units with about 300 cases are seen yearly in total by the two centers.
Speaking at the launch of the Lifeline for Childhood Cancer Ghana, Prince Nyamadi, a leukemia survivor called on stakeholders to support the initiative.
“…Even though it’s very important when we do pay these patients a visit in the hospital, to show them care and love, one most important thing that we need is funds to be cured…because after coming to visit us and share with us a word of prayer, the question that hits back on the bed is how do my parents get money to fund the treatment that I’m going through. I would like to urge everyone to donate in support of Lifeline for childhood cancer.” He pleaded.
He added that, the donation exercise is one of the ways to support the Paediatric Cancer Unit and commiserate with world childhood cancer awareness month.
The blood donation exercise will be held on Saturday, September 22, 2018, at the Achimota Mall whereas another will be held on September 29, 2018 at the Accra Mall on the theme “One Pint, One Life”.
Prince Nyamadi who is the co-founder of the Living Dreams Foundation indicated that the exercise will create awareness on Childhood cancer and also help raise funds to support kids living with cancer.
