Hub of Hope launched at hospital
To provide some relief to the adolescent cancer patients of Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, DKMS Africa has launched the 'Hope Hub' which is a special area for them to have fun.
IN light of World Blood Cancer Day, which is observed globally on May 28, DKMS Africa, in collaboration with DKMS Germany, built a ‘Hope Hub’ for the blood-cancer patients at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital. The unveiling took place on Monday, May 29, where DKMS, CHOC and various other collaborators celebrated the launch of the exciting new addition to the hospital.
With blood cancer being the most prevalent cancer among children, this is a key day in bringing awareness to this very life-threatening illness affecting our children in South Africa.
To provide some relief to the adolescent cancer patients of Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, DKMS Africa has launched the ‘Hope Hub’ which is a special area for them to have fun, catch up with homework and just be teenagers.
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Speaking at the event, Konstanze Burkard from DKMS in Germany said,
“What a pleasure and honour it is for me to be here today with you to celebrate the unveiling of our Hope Hub.
A space that is designated to make the young patients’ time here a little more bearable, to bring hope and to bring you, the patients, some joy.”
Burkard said she has been working for DKMS Germany for many years as a donor recruiter and in the communications department. “As part of the global organisation of DKMS, I also support the management of DKMS Africa, especially in ensuring the growth and donor recruitment and working hand in hand with the organisation.”
“Nine years ago, DKMS initiated World Blood Cancer Day to draw attention to what this diagnosis actually means and how it fundamentally changes the lives of affected patients and their loved ones. It means to have your life disrupted, to be separated from your loved ones and not being able to enjoy the things that make life so pleasurable.
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“To mark this year’s Blood Cancer Day, we therefore want to shine a spotlight on a group of patients who are sometimes easily overlooked,” said Burkard.
Speaking at the function, CEO of Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital Dr Linda Mtshali said she, the patients and staff at the hospital will be eternally grateful for the donation.
“I greet all of you this morning with a happy smile because we have achieved something we didn’t even dream of.
“Through the kind donation of this room from DKMS and DKMS partnering with us to investigate what exactly the patients would need from the Hope Hub and finding stem-cell donors for them, DKMS has made this happen. We hope this partnership will last a lifetime.
“We are also glad that blood cancer is being focused on because in the medical field, we focus on other cancers more than we do blood cancer. We at Albert Luthuli Central Hospital thank you.”
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