Spreading the word about childhood cancer
─ young survivors participate in awareness walk
─ adequate care and treatment offered at Georgetown Public Hospital
DPI, Guyana, Saturday, February 16, 2019
The world observed Childhood Cancer Awareness Day on February 15 in keeping with this event the Giving Hope Foundation, Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) and the Ministry of Public Health on Saturday held a Childhood Awareness Walk, under the theme, “Fighting cancer one child at a time.”
The aim of the exercise was to inform and sensitise the general public about childhood cancer.
Persons from various schools and organisations gathered at the National Park dressed in white tee shirts, each participant was given yellow balloons which signifies children who lost the battle against the dreadful disease.
The walk culminated at the Georgetown Sewall Bandstand, Kingston where young cancer survivors were given hampers by the Giving Hope Foundation and the Guyana Oil Company (GUYOIL).
Founder of the Giving Hope Foundation and Medical Doctor attached to the Georgetown Public Hospital’s Oncology Department, Dr. Latoya Gooding said this is the third year the annual activity is being held since part of the mandate of the Giving Hope Foundation is to raise awareness of childhood cancer.
“Giving Hope Foundation is a Non- Profit Organisation with one mandate aimed to reduce the incidents of Cancer in Guyana by 2020. We have been doing monthly outreaches and discovered that more persons are diagnosed with cancer at early stages,” Dr. Gooding said
She also disclosed that Head of the Health Sector Development Unit (HSDU), Dr. Morris Edwards had conducted a retro study, where it was revealed that about 17 per cent of all the cancers are childhood cancer.
“It’s a small percentage but it is necessary that we collaborative to beat childhood cancer in Guyana,” Dr. Gooding emphasised
According to PAHO/WHO, cancer is among the leading causes of death in children over one year of age, in many countries of the Americas and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is the most common type.
Ayana George
Images: Ackeem Thomas