Save the lives of children with cancer in Zimbabwe

CANCER AWARENESS PILOT REPORT IN ZIMBABWE

Two cancers which have caused unnecessary deaths among children in Zimbabwe are Wilms Tumour (Cancer of the kidney) and Retinoblastoma (Cancer of the eye). The Childhood Cancer Early Diagnosis campaign, implemented by Kidzcan between February and June 2019 aimed to address the problem of late diagnosis and referral of childhood cancers in Harare and Chitungwiza suburbs of Zimbabwe. By building the capacity of the professional health staff and community health workers, the project equipped these key health cadres with improved knowledge, skills and tools to increase screening and referral of children suspected of the two cancers. This campaign was implemented as a pilot project at 50 health facilities in Chitungwiza and Harare suburbs. Given the geographical coverage, the relatively short implementation phase, and the restricted budget, the project achieved remarkable progress and successes. Guided by the Primary Health Care Approach, the project infused childhood cancer screening within the national Family Health Service strategy. At national level, the project advocated for the enabling environment for increased childhood cancer screening through lobbying policy makers and influencers and by engaging the mass media. Community Health Workers advanced considerably in engaging their communities resulting in mothers bringing their children for cancer screening. Health centres reported an increase in the number of mothers demanding to have their children screened which is a critical step towards early detection. Challenges encountered during the project span were due to budget restrictions, low staff morale and attrition against an unstable socio-economic environment. The unanimous appeal across all the project partners and across community actors is that the project should be expanded and scaled up to cover the whole country. Implemented as a pilot project, Kidzcan and Ministry of Health and Child Care designed this project to test feasibility and usefulness of specific activities and approaches as they developed evidence based strategies. The results of this project provides evidence based programming which will provide policy guidance for the benefit of possible future initiatives in Childhood cancer screening and children’s health in general. While much remains to be done, Kidzcan has come far in the fight to understand, treat, and control childhood cancer. With adequate support, great improvement will be realized in the dealing with the current challenges facing childhood cancer diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation in Zimbabwe. Figures coming through show that during this three month period just over 300 000 children were screened for the two most common cancers in Zimbabwe, namely Cancer of the Eye and Cancer of the Kidney. Thank you to ALL Global Giving Donors for you continued support to Kidzcan Zimbabwe. #NO CHILD SHOULD BE LEFT BEHIND

The Story of the bus fare project at Kidzcan Zimbabwe.

As part of Psychosocial support and also having observed the number of children defaulting treatment due to lack of transport money Kidzcan decided to embark  on giving parents and guardians support in terms of bus fare to those who could not afford .In the year 2014.  Average costs to the following areas were as follows

1. Mutoko      $10.00
2. Chiredz I    $15.00
3. Lupane      $25.00
4. Mutare       $7.00
5. Gokwe       $15.00
6. Bulawayo  $20.00

Average no of people asking for assistance averaged 10.per week

With the economic meltdown in the country demand for bus fare support has since increased by 100% as well as the cost of transport

Here is a list of the same centers as of March 2019

1. Mutoko      $40 -45.00
2. Lupane      $70 -75.00
3. Mutare       $20-25.00
4. Gokwe       $30-35.00
5. Bulawayo    $40-55.00
6. Chiredzi      $40 – 45.00

The cost varies with the mode of payment to the transporter if one uses echo cash one pays more than when you have cash.

The numbers have also increased averaging 40 per month with a record of 51 people supported with bus fares in March alone. What also has been significant is that parents are now asking for transport to and fro which never used to be the case as they could look for support from friends and relatives. Some are giving reports that the relatives friends and family are also saying it is hard for them to support other people as their own income is not enough for their families.

What effect has this had on the care and treatment of children? We have noticed more and more parents/guardians are finding it difficult to keep appointments as they have no money for transport. Some find their way to the Hospital on credit.  We  have had stories of mothers who have given their phones or ID cards as a form of surety to transport operators so that they are allowed to travel and  will collect these items  when they pay their debt

Today we support all our children with bus fares to and fro for treatment.

This is a special appeal to continue to support Kidzcan, your donation will help make sure our children come for their next treatment appointment.

DONATE TODAY and Thank you……remember in 2019 …#no child should be left behind

Links:

• Newsday Newspaper