Foundation urges support for children living with cancer

To reduce the plight of children suffering from cancer in Nigeria, a non-profit organisation, The Dorcas Cancer Foundation(TDCF), has called for urgent intervention and support for these group of children to enable them access quality treatment.
Every year, millions of children are said to be diagnosed with cancer worldwide; with more than 80% of these children living in low and middle income countries such as Nigeria.

In Nigeria, about four children die of cancer daily, according to research and statistics, and this calls for urgent intervention.

According to the Founder of TDCF, Dr. Adedayo Joseph, many Nigerian children are today dying in their numbers due to cancer.

Joseph who is an Oncologist explained: “These children are lost due to a number of reasons such as: late presentation as a result of ignorance, high cost of Cancer treatment, superstitious beliefs, financial constraints and lack of access and inadequate treatment facilities.

“In the presence of these inadequacies, the child is left alone as all the decisions are made by the parents”.

Based on the above challenges, Joseph said his non-profit organisation is advocating support for children suffering from cancer in Nigeria and therefore, would be launching a Cancer Handbook Series to further provide assistance to them.

“TDCF is providing help to children coping with cancer in Nigeria and we at TDCF are task-ready to lead the pack towards Childhood Cancer Awareness.” At least four children die of Cancer every day in developing countries such as Nigeria.

We are determined to create awareness as well as procure, fund or directly provide treatment and social support to children made vulnerable by limited resources”, he stated.

He went on: “We are dedicated to improving early cancer detection, ensuring accurate diagnosis and enabling prompt and proper treatment of childhood cancer. We also carry out childhood cancer awareness programs to educate the public and reduce the stigmatization and superstition associated with cancer”.

He however noted that the good news about childhood cancer was that it could be treated and the result could be seen in the number of survivors as a result of early presentation and subsequent treatments.

“Like most cancers, the sooner childhood cancers are found and treated, the better”, he affirmed.

Angela Onwuzoo