By Doreen Ampofo
The First Lady, Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo, has committed to improving access to care for hundreds of children with cancer in the country.
Speaking at the third annual general meeting of the Childhood Cancer Society of Ghana, the First Lady said stakeholders must collaborate to ensure that the children receive the best care, as childhood cancers have a high survival rate.
Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo was honored by the Childhood Cancer Society of Ghana (CCSG) for her contribution and dedication to the welfare of children with cancer in the country.
Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo, in response, said she will continue to advocate for access to quality healthcare for children with cancer.
Childhood cancer in Africa is now emerging as a potentially important disease condition on the continent. With the resources of most health systems directed towards combating infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria, and COVID-19, cancer is projected to become an important cause of morbidity and deaths.
Already, the Child Health Department of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital is reporting that, excluding deaths occurring in the first 48 hours after admission in the emergency room, child cancer cases are among the leading causes of death in the longer-stay wards.
According to statistics from the Childhood Cancer Society of Ghana, about 1,200 children under 15 are affected by cancer every year. However, with only three treatment centers in Ghana, just about 250 cases are seen every year, leaving about 80 percent of childhood cancer patients to their fate.
Presenting the award, President of the Childhood Cancer Society of Ghana, Professor Lorna Awo, thanked the first lady for supporting the society in constructing Sunshine Hostel, the first ever hostel for parents whose children are battling cancer. The hostel is a safe haven and a place of rest for mothers who have to spend their time at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital while taking care of their children receiving treatment for cancer.
Director General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, said finding the right human resource to deal with the many cases is a challenge, adding that there is a lot to be done to ensure that children with cancer receive quality health care in the country. He said that with the right measures in place, the country can achieve at least 80 per cent survival rates for children with cancer.
Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye explained that issues of lack of human resources, abandonment of treatment, and lack of a cancer registry to direct national policies must be addressed.
In a panel discussion, the panelists called for a strategic partnership to ensure adequate medication in treatment facilities. They also highlighted the need for capacity building for caregivers, networking and partnership, and an enabling environment to quicken access to health care.
The annual general meeting focused on improving pediatric cancer care in Lower Middle-Income Countries.
