FIVE HUNDRED CHILDREN DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER IN 2023.
The coordinator for World Child Cancer, Mrs Adwoa Pinamang Boateng Desu, has revealed that about five thousand children were diagnosed with cancer in 2023.
In an exclusive interview with Sata Radio UK in Ghana, Mrs Boateng Desu stated that some of the challengings confronting child cancer in Ghana are early detection and late referrals.
According to her, early detection will enable the right treatment for survival.
She hinted that the World Child Cancer organisation, through it source of funding by Amgen Biopharmaceutical company in the USA, is the only organisation that supports children living with cancer in Ghana.
In a two days workshop to train health care professionals,Mrs Boateng Desu added that there are four childhood cancers on the national insurance scheme, which has it own challengings.
However, Dr Nihad Salifu, a paediatric oncologist, said that people with low syndrome are at risk of getting cancer. She explained that people living with HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis can cause certain cancers in the body. She mentioned some symptoms and causes of cancer in the child.
She noted that pollution of our water bodies, chemicals on our farm produce ready to be sold in our markets and other toxic materials can be causes of cancer in our children.
"Some persisting symptoms such as high temperature, fever, repeated fatigue, body pains, aches, excess bleeding, change of eye colour among others."
She called for a regular cancer evaluation. If any of these symptoms persist in the child. Madam Salifu
0revealed that cancer detected early in children is curable.
She also called on the government to implement the four childhood cancers placed on the national health insurance scheme.
" parents who are affected by cancer are paying from their pockets, and it is costly and expensive to treat cancer," she lamented.
Dr Nihad Salifu advised parents to provide healthy, true Ghanaian meals to their children to avoid any problem.
She advocated to parents whose children are living with cancer to come out publicly to educate other people on the causes and treatment of cancer.
She called on the media to support world child cancer to educate the public in September as it has been slated for Childhood Cancer Day.
She cautioned society about stigmatisation. She said stigma has not done humanity any good, that is why the disease has not attracted a national conversation.
Mr Ebenezer Antwi, a participant and a
Pharmacist at Presbyterian Hospital, Asante Akyem Agogo called on the government and other stakeholders to partner with World Child Cancer to manage cancer in our children.
Report by PKB
