Group Commends Hospital For Reducing Cancer Burden In Children
The Okapi Children Cancer Foundation, a non-governmental organization (NGO), has recognised Silver Cross Hospital, Abuja, and other outstanding groups and organisations for their tireless efforts in alleviating the burden of childhood cancer in Nigeria.
Speaking during the organisation’s 2024 official presentation of donations and awards ceremony in commemoration of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month held in Abuja, Chief Volunteer of the Foundation, Kemi Adekanye stated that Silver Cross Hospital has been one of their greatest supporters since the initiative started.
“The Chief Medical Director of Silver Cross Hospital, Dr. Patrick Ezie is always kin to provide us with free healthcare to our participants and also in diagnosing children with cancer. We have been working with the hospital for about three years and they have been absolutely fantastic,”she said.
Adekanye stated that since the Foundation inception in 2017, the organisation has supported over 200 children battling cancer, with 40 children receiving direct support in the past year alone.
She said despite challenges such as limited funding and low public awareness, which often leads to delayed hospital visits, the NGO remains committed to its mission of saving lives.
Adekanye added that there has been a significant rise in survival rates among children receiving care at three prominent hospitals in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) — Federal Medical Center, National Hospital, and the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, since the Foundation’s intervention.
“We had a survival rate of about 20 percent at the time we started, but I can tell you that today, we have a survival rate of at least 50 percent in most of the hospitals,” she said.
She called on the government to intensify efforts to ensure early diagnosis and access to treatment for children with cancer in Nigeria adding that the Foundation’s vision is to extend support to every state in Nigeria, ensuring no child is left behind in the fight against cancer.
The head of management at the Okapi Children Cancer Foundation, Dr. Ozy Okonokhua explained that the event aimed at formally handing over the funds the organisation raised to the three hospitals and also appreciate persons who have supported them in the course of one year.
He called on the government to make pediatric cancer treatment a national priority, urging for more funding to ensure that more children have access to treatment.
“Our in own advocacy is that government should make treatment for children suffering from cancer a national priority so that funds are located specifically for children whether it being in the basic health care provision fund or other funds to support children battling from cancer,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, a caregiver, Dr. Amina Idris expressed gratitude to the foundation for their assistance in the treatment of her child.
“Cancer doesn’t care about religion, economic status, background, or political affiliation. It was not easy, but my child survived by the grace of God and the financial support from the Okapi Children Cancer Foundation,” she said.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of N30m to three hospitals in the FCT to help alleviate the intensity of medical bills for children with cancer.
Group Commends Hospital For Reducing Cancer Burden In Children is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
