Over 200 children undergoing treatment for various cancer-related conditions are expected to benefit from a donation by the Kwaku Danso Abbeam (KDA) Foundation.
The donation of medical equipment and drugs to the Paediatric Oncology Unit of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) is to support children whose parents and guardians are struggling to afford the huge cost associated with cancer management.
Statistics from the Paediatric Oncology Unit indicate that about 150 new childhood cancer cases were recorded as at the end of 2017.
The exercise, according to the Foundation’s President, Kwaku Danso Abbeam, is the first of his Child Cancer Project which will span over the year.
Speaking to Ultimate News after the exercise on Tuesday, he explained that he was touched and motivated to support the Unit after he lost his relative, three years ago, through cancer at KATH.
“My brother passed from cancer at this hospital three years ago and ever since he passed, I decided to do something in support of the hospital. I thought it was a good idea to reach out to the kids suffering from cancer in this hospital.”
He added: “KDA Foundation is an organization that wants to give back to the general public and were going to roll out a lot of different projects this year. This particular one, we call it the Child Cancer Project and this is the first one we are formalizing. I have a few friends who are doctors and they introduced me to Dr Lawrence Osei Tutu and through him, I got to know all the things that they really need.”
The kids and their guardians were also treated to a party to celebrate the New Year.
“We brought them perfusors, drugs and also threw a party for them. Most of these kids couldn’t go home to celebrate the Christmas so we thought it was a good opportunity to bring the party to them,” the KDA Foundation boss mentioned.
On his part, Paediatric Oncologist, Dr Lawrence Osei Tutu, who expressed gratitude on behalf of the Unit said that although, three out of 10 children survive the condition, his outfit was committed to save the lives of the younger ones.
He also bemoaned the lack of government support regarding funding, logistics and expressed hope that, the situation could, however, be reversed.
“Every year, the number of children who are newly diagnosed with cancer, increase. I get the question that it is the food we are eating, which I don’t think so.
“I think it’s because we’re doing well in ensuring that our children survive that critical first five years of life. The story is not much different because for every 10 children at KATH, probably about 7 of them can die and 3 of them will survive.
“These three are the children who get support in terms of money, money from foundations, big organizations, churches and they are able to buy these expensive drugs, get access to blood transfusions, good antibiotics. It’s a mix of different things but we haven’t given up and we are thankful for foundations like KDA,” Dr Osei Tutu hinted.
Source: Ghana/Starrfmonline.com/103.5FM/Patricia Ama Bonsu
