5-year-old Chimwala is from the village of Makawa in the district of Machinga in Malawi.
At the beginning of 2021, she was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma. Her mother, Stella, describes their experience with diagnosis and treatment:
“I first noticed something was wrong with my daughter when she began having breathing difficulties and unexplained weight loss. We travelled to Namasalima Hospital and were later discharged, but there was no improvement in my child’s health.”
– Chimwala’s mother Stella
“I then went back to the hospital, where we were referred to Zamba Children’s Hospital and eventually to Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital oncology ward [which is supported by World Child Cancer].
“When my daughter was diagnosed with Burkitt’s Lymphoma, I originally accepted it as I didn’t know anything about the disease. Before my child received her diagnosis, I had only heard of cervical cancer and never childhood cancer. I never thought my child would suffer from cancer.
“However, I now hope that my child is getting better each day, and I am happy because my daughter is better than before. I hope to see my child continue with her education as she has not been going to school due to this illness.
“As a parent who has experienced this first-hand, if you note that your child is unwell, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. World Child Cancer is a great charity and should continue with the good work they have demonstrated so far as to help so many people. “
According to the World Bank, Malawi remains one of the world’s poorest countries, with over half the population living on less than a dollar a day. Without support, treatment is not an option for many children with cancer. £30 could support services that enable the accurate diagnosis of two children with cancer in Malawi.
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