The World Child Cancer (WCC), an International Non-Governmental Organisation has donated items worth USD 10,000 to the Oncology Unit of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) to improve early detection and management of child cancer in the country.
The donation was made to provide equal access to treatment and care to every child born no matter the environment.
According to the Regional Coordinator of WCC in the Sub-Saharan Africa, Emmanuel Ayire Adongo, who presented the items, he disclosed that about 300,000 children develop cancer yearly with majority living in low and middle income countries.
“Globally, statistics showed that 300,000 children developed cancer every year, with majority in low and middle income countries,” he indicated.
He further stated nearly 1,300 Ghanaian children develop cancer yearly with about 38 per cent of total number referred to specialist care in the country, hence, making it possible for the NGO to partner with the Pediatric Oncology Unit at the Korle bu Hospital to develop a Centre of Excellence for the West African Sub region to deal with child cancer cases.
Prior to that, the WCC is currently undertaking four projects funded by DFID, UBS Optimus Foundation, British Foreign Society School Project and Celgene since 2010 in the country.
The Regional Coordinator, however said, with the funds from such International bodies, the organization is able to embark on other activities such as, training of doctors and Nurses on Pediatric Oncology, Capacity building of health professionals and community health workers on early signs and symptoms of child cancer in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service (GHS).
“Other projects like treatment support for investigations, transport and medications for vulnerable parents and hospital school project, among others are being catered for,” he stressed.
Dr William Obeng, a Pediatrician who received the items on behalf of management thanked the organization for their kind gesture and efforts to improve early detection and management of child cancer.
The items presented includes; 50-inch flat screen television and accessories for multidisciplinary meetings, Nitrite gloves, shoe covers, hair covers, disposal gowns, cytotoxic spill kits, disinfectants, methylated spirit, cytotoxic bin liners, mattress covers for parents, needles, disinfecting wipes, gauze, face masks, close system transfer device, roller mixer for dissolving power drug, refill hand sanitizer and patient monitors.
Some of the items donated would be conveyed to the Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.
Source: Eric Nii Sackey, erysaco93@yahoo.com