Giving ‘The Gift of Growing Up’ to children with cancer in Bangladesh: A project update

In March 2020, World Child Cancer launched its new three-year programme in Bangladesh, helping to support children with cancer and their families.

The funding is a direct result of our ‘Give the Gift of Growing Up’ appeal, which raised over £1 million thanks to the UK Aid Match scheme and Gift Aid. The programme in Bangladesh received matched funds from the UK government of £492,597, whilst public donations and Gift Aid funded other World Child Cancer programmes in low-and middle-income countries around the world.

Over 6,000 children in Bangladesh are expected to develop cancer per year, however only a quarter of those receive an accurate diagnosis. This can be attributed to low levels of & late diagnosis – a result of low levels of public awareness- inadequate access to healthcare and a lack of diagnostic equipment World Child Cancer’s three-year programme seeks to improve this.

The project focuses on training nurses in Bangladesh

The project, which is now at its midway point, aims to transform the lives of 7,800 children with cancer across Bangladesh by improving treatment, care and quality of life and access for those most vulnerable. We will achieve long term change by focusing on the improvement of nursing to strengthen the healthcare system.

“The programme in Bangladesh has been a great step forward. Although it is a three-year programme with World Child Cancer, we believe that this is the groundwork for greater long-term impact on childhood cancer care in Bangladesh.”

‘Long-term impact’ is a factor that is given great emphasis. We aim to ensure all of programmes have in-built sustainability, ensuring that the good work can continue past the three-year span of the project. The working groups involved in the programme are all locally led by those involved in the paediatric oncology community who are for the most part in government salaried roles, meaning they will remain in post past the end of this project. Additionally, the Training of Trainers nursing working group are helping to ensure that there are nurse educators able to train a greater number of nurses in each hospital, widening the total group of nurses using new techniques.

These are just two aspects of new and improved measures to ensure the long-term sustainability of the programme.
With over 400,000 children expected to develop cancer worldwide each year, the importance of programmes like this in Bangladesh cannot be understated. We at World Child Cancer want to live in a world where all children, regardless of situation, have equal and proper access to quality cancer care; with your continued support we can move one step closer to making that a reality.

World Child Cancer will be providing updates throughout the duration of the programme. Keep up to date with all the latest news by signing up to our newsletter.

Naa’s Story

We first met Naa in 2016 when she was diagnosed with Wilm’s Tumour at 7 years old. In 2021 the cancer returned and Naa underwent treatment again. She has battled cancer twice and is now back in school.

Read more

Joseph’s update

We first met Joseph in 2019 after he was diagnosed with Leukaemia. Find out more how he is doing after his successful treatment.

Read more

Kayin’s story

Kayin was diagnosed with Burkitt’s Lymphoma. He is now working as a carpenter and is feeling happy and strong.

Read more

Rebecca’s Update

Read more about our catch-up with Rebecca after undergoing cancer treatment through World Child Cancer in Ghana six years ago.

Read more

Hassan’s story

14-year-old Hassan from the Machinga district of Malawi was diagnosed with Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) last year.

Read more

Discover More Stories…

Naa’s Story

We first met Naa in 2016 when she was diagnosed with Wilm’s Tumour at 7 years old. In 2021 the cancer returned and Naa underwent treatment again. She has battled cancer twice and is now back in school.

Read more

Joseph’s update

We first met Joseph in 2019 after he was diagnosed with Leukaemia. Find out more how he is doing after his successful treatment.

Read more

Kayin’s story

Kayin was diagnosed with Burkitt’s Lymphoma. He is now working as a carpenter and is feeling happy and strong.

Read more

Rebecca’s Update

Read more about our catch-up with Rebecca after undergoing cancer treatment through World Child Cancer in Ghana six years ago.

Read more

Hassan’s story

14-year-old Hassan from the Machinga district of Malawi was diagnosed with Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) last year.

Read more

Tiwo’s story

Five years after developing cancer and two years of treatment later, six-year-old Tiwo is doing well

Read more

Franklyn’s Story

Meet Franklyn, now 17, who is fully recovered from cancer and dreams of becoming a doctor to help others

Read more

Rebecca’s Success Story

Rebecca is now able to return to school after undergoing cancer treatment through World Child Cancer in Ghana

Read more

My road to recovery

Prince went on to become a childhood cancer advocate and help many other children just like him when he recovered from leukaemia. Read More

Read more

Estaphanie is excited to start university!

Meet Estaphanie, who is excited to start university after being forced to take time out of school following a cancer diagnosis

Read more

Meet Bulu

Bulu is looking forward to following in his brother’s footsteps getting back on the football field

Read more

Meet Oscar

Oscar was six years old when his mother noticed a swelling on his tummy and took him to a traditional village doctor

Read more
Will you join us?

Together we can close the gap in childhood cancer care.

Fill out the form to download the taster session


    Fill out the form to download the taster session


      Fill out the form to download the taster session


        Fill out the form to download the taster session


          Fill out the form to download the taster session


            Fill out the form to download the taster session


              Fill out the form to download the taster session


                Fill out the form to download the taster session


                  Fill out the form to download the taster session