LIMPOPO – Cancer is a curable disease if detected early and patients use their medication as prescribed and other forms of treatment, said Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba during an awareness campaign on childhood cancer that was held on August 10.
She encouraged especially moms whose children have been diagnosed with cancer, to ensure their children take their medication and go for the treatment recommended by doctors.
“While we work to raise awareness of childhood cancer all year round, this time we want to increase awareness as well as the work we do to support children with cancer and their families. Childhood cancers can be cured with medicines and other forms of treatment, including surgery and radiotherapy and we want to use this awareness to reach as many parents as possible and ensure that child care services are accessible,” said Ramathuba.
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She explained that the aim of the awareness campaign is to address women as mothers, because when a child is sick, the woman is the one who usually takes care of them. During the campaign, held at Tshilidzini Hospital with the theme ‘Children Our Future’, the MEC was joined by female medical specialists who helped to educate and give guidance to mothers.
Ramathuba added that she was grateful to have the paediatric specialists and Champions Pediatrics Oncology group supporting the initiative.
The event was part of a Women’s Month celebration and the second anniversary of Rural Health Matters outreach programme. According to Ramathuba, the campaign is intended to focus on the types of cancer that largely affects children and to draw attention to survivorship issues.
“Cancer is the leading cause of death for children and adolescents. Each year, an estimated 400 000 children and teens develop cancer of which the most common types include leukemia, brain cancer, lymphoma and solid tumors such as neuroblastoma and Wilma tumors,” Ramathuba explained.
A paediatrician, Dr Kagiso Batka, who is also a cancer survivor, encouraged young people working in hospitals, who want to study and specialise, and added they are available to them as mentors.
One of the moms, Jennet Netshifhefhe, said when her child was diagnosed with cancer, she struggled to accept this reality but as soon as she made us of the medication and treatment, her child was cured.
