Save the lives of children with cancer in Zimbabwe

It is when we share our stories that we are able to reflect on our journey. Kidzcan has many friends and today we want to tell them how much they have made the winter nights as bearable as they could and the pain from cancer as endurable as it may be for children with cancer. The care and support from people who are concerned by the welfare of the children with cancer, has prolonged life for a child, given to another a smile and the ability to see the light of the next day. To the other, legs to walk to school and to many children, pain management drugs, so that they can spend most of their time playing, learning and out of bed, rather than in bed and seeing the world through a window.

It’s been a while since us, as Kidzcan shared what we have been doing and how the children with cancer have been doing. In Zimbabwe Chemotherapy drugs are very expensive and very challenging to source. Diagnostics services are also challenging within the Public Sector, and Private Diagnostic Services are very expensive and unaffordable to many. Specialised Cancer Services are accessible at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, which is the only Hospital that has a Paediatric Oncology Ward dedicated to treating children with cancer. Parirenyatwa A4 Special Ward is overwhelmed with patients referred from all provinces of the country (sometimes further than 600km). It is a long and agonising process for a child with cancer to access Specialised Services. Kidzcan has narrowed the processes by providing transport fees for the children with cancer and their care givers. The organisation also pays for Specialised Diagnostics Services from Private Centres, sources and provides Chemotherapy drugs among other things. MRI costs $ 1000 and a CT scan cost $500 from Private Centres. Chemotherapy drugs costs between $60-$320 per protocol. Some children have been on treatment more than 4 years.

In the last three months, 51 new patients were registered with Kidzcan for aid, 131 were been admitted in A4 Special Ward, 270 assisted with Chemotherapy Drugs, 80 with Blood Disorders Drugs, 50 with Specialised Diagnostic Services and 57 have been assisted with transport locally and internationally and Kidzcan met the bills. Kudakwashe (5 years) suffers from Xeroderma Pigmentosum. He travels with his mother to South Africa for Corrective Operative Treatment. He is the 4^th born in a family of 4. His older sister passed away from the same condition and his mother is very concerned about his health. He has been unwell for some time. Kidzcan has worked extremely hard to make it possible for Kudakwashe to access care and treatment. He has been unable to eat because of the pain and had lost so much weight. On Friday the 6^th of June Kudakwashe visited our office all the way back from South Africa. He was a happy and smiling boy, very much playful with a good appetite. He kept nudging his mum to buy him chips and he informed me that he would not share his chips with anyone. Kidzcan is also happy to announce that, two of the children with cancer are now on remission after successful treatment.

Michelle is 15 years now. She has been getting assistance from Kidzcan since 4 years ago. She was given a prosthetic leg and she walks on crutches since 2012. However,she has grown and the prosthetic leg needed to be replaced as she was finding it difficult to walk. Finally, another prosthetic leg and crutches were sourced and bought for her on the 29^th of May 2015 by Kidzcan. Asked on how she feels about the new look, Michelle said she is very proud of her new height, gait and stature.

 Total Funding Goal Raised Funding $38,151.13

Total Funding to date $ 31,621.95

Remaining Goal Funding $ 6,529.18