Story by Hannah Dadzie
Government is to train more Paediatric Oncologists and nurses to help improve the treatment of childhood cancer in the country. Available data shows that childhood cancer continues to be a neglected and marginalized disease and very expensive to treat. Speaking at the National launch of International Childhood Cancer Day in Accra, Deputy Minister of Health, Tina Mensah, called on stakeholders to make childhood cancer a national health priority. She said the Ministry is committed to ensuring that quality and affordable healthcare is accessible to all Ghanaians.
“The government of Ghana is grateful to all staff who throughout the years have contributed greatly to the care of all persons in Ghana including children diagnosed with Cancers. We are committed to ensuring that more oncologist nurses and other health personnel needed to care for persons diagnosed with cancer in Ghana are trained accordingly.” Madam Mensah indicated.
Reports say since 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted a number of critical healthcare around the world, including early detection of cancer. Routine cancer screenings and other essential checkups of children with cancer have also been affected due to the pandemic. Stakeholders believe every child and adolescent suffering from cancer, regardless of country of origin, social class, financial condition, or race, deserves the best medical and psychosocial treatment. Deputy Minister of Health, Tina Mensah, said a successful fight against the disease begins with early detection and diagnosis.
“Let us remember that a child with cancer is no less important than a child with malaria, measles, tuberculosis, HIV, malnutrition or any other life-threatening illness. All sick children deserve our full support to prolong and improve the quality of their lives.” She said Although World Child Cancer is helping to train more health professionals in the treatment of childhood cancer, more needs to be done. The Regional Coordinator, Sub Saharan Africa of World Child Cancer, Emmanuel Ayire Adongo called for the establishment of a childhood cancer fund to support Ghanaians.
“I think we are doing well just that we haven’t gotten there yet, Ghana has the political will but we need to do more in investing in diagnostics. I’m calling on the Government besides absorbing childhood cancers on NHIS to establish a fund because there are not only four cancers, there are several childhood cancers, to support the management of childhood cancers in Ghana. Apart from the treatment, the diagnosis, they also need nutrition to be able to go through the treatment. They also need transportation because some of them are from deprived areas and they are mostly poor so we need a special fund to be established.” Mr Adongo noted
The theme for this year’s celebration is “Better survival is achievable, through the collective efforts of Ghanaians.
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