HELP CHOC (Childhood Cancer Foundation) assist children with cancer and their families by supporting International Childhood Cancer Day on Monday 15 February.
With the theme “Have a heart for children with cancer” CHOC has a challenge for the community.
“We would like to fill every school playground and office building with hearts. Allocate a tree in your grounds and allow your learners and staff to be creative and have fun! · Allow your learners and staff to design and make a heart that can be hung in the tree and for R5, R10 or R20 learners and staff can wear civvies on Monday 15 February and hang their heart in the tree, remembering all children who have cancer,” said Agie Govender, regional manager of CHOC KZN.
She encouraged people to take photos of their “heart trees” and send to CHOC or the media, place on social media and use them in the school year book and newsletters.
“Allow your learners and staff to form a large heart on the playground, have a minute's silence for children suffering from cancer and take an aerial photo for the media and for the school year book,” she said.
Govender said the rights and needs of children and adolescents with cancer have been marginalised and neglected and while deaths due to infectious diseases have been significantly reduced, deaths due to childhood cancers are increasing.
“One death is one too many. While childhood cancer deaths are not preventable, they are avoidable, children deserve the best! Childhood cancer is now the leading cause of death among children and adolescents in developed and developing countries. In some countries, deaths due to childhood cancer are more than the combined deaths from all types of childhood illnesses,” she said.
She said is is important for schools to show support and solidarity for International Childhood Cancer Day, as statistics do not tell the whole story.
“Childhood cancer does not have borders, it is curable, but there is significant inequity and disparity in survival rates across countries. Children are our future and deserve the chance to live to the fullest and no family should become impoverished or go deeper into poverty when a child gets sick with cancer. Access to better care, affordable good quality medications and heath care coverage can reduce the deaths. Access to the best possible care for children with cancer is their human right, and not just a privilege,” she said.
For more information, visit: www.choc.org.za or https://www.facebook.com/CHOChildhoodSA
Contact the Durban office on dbn@choc.org.za or 086 111 2182.
