By Grace Yayra Kagatse
Accra, Sept. 20, GNA – Cure Childhood Cancer Ghana Foundation, in partnership with Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge), has launched the Go Yellow Campaign to raise funds for treatment and care of children with cancer.
The campaign also marked Childhood Cancer Awareness Month with a funfair at the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park, where about 10 children who had completed cancer treatment were celebrated.
Dr Nihad Salifu, Head of Paediatric Oncology at Ridge Hospital, said the unit started three years ago with four beds and still operated with the same capacity, despite patient numbers increasing from 10 to more than 40 annually.
She said the unit was sometimes compelled to administer treatment in the playroom, with children sitting in chairs for several hours, and that the campaign would help provide a more suitable treatment environment.
Dr Salifu said the campaign sought to mobilise one million Ghanaians to donate GH¢10 monthly to support tests, treatment, counselling and transportation for children with cancer.
She said the Ghana Medical Trust Fund currently covered five childhood cancers, while children with other forms of cancer still required financial support. Treatment, she added, could take several months to three years.
Dr Adam Zakaria, Medical Director of Ridge Hospital, said many affected children came from poor households and could not afford treatment, which went beyond medicines to include food, counselling, exercises and radiotherapy.
He urged parents and caregivers to seek medical attention early, saying close to 80 per cent of childhood cancers could be cured when detected early and treated appropriately.
Dr Zakaria thanked partners, including Rotary Club, Enterprise and Lions Club, and commended the government for selecting at least six childhood cancers for funding under the Ghana Medical Trust Fund.
Ms Salma Suhuyini Fuseini, Programme Manager of the Foundation, said childhood cancer cure rates in some countries exceeded 80 per cent, while Ghana’s rate remained at 30 per cent or below.
She said the Go Yellow Campaign sought to bring one million Ghanaians together to improve the chances of survival for children receiving cancer treatment.
Ms Fuseini dispelled misconceptions about childhood cancer, saying the disease could be treated and children from all backgrounds deserved access to care. She urged communities not to stigmatise affected children.
Dr Ernestina Schandorf, Greater Accra Regional Branch Chair of the Paediatric Society of Ghana, said childhood cancer was curable and called for efforts to give affected children access to timely treatment.
Ms Aisha Bashiru from Koforidua, a parent of a child undergoing treatment, said her child started complaining of stomach pains at age three, which she initially attributed to eating sweets.
She said the family had faced financial difficulties due to frequent hospital visits.
Another parent, Ms Cecilia Ampoma, said the cost of treatment had depleted the family’s finances and made it difficult to meet other expenses.
The organisers therefore appealed to the public to support the Go Yellow Campaign.
GNA
Edited by Audrey Dekalu