Closing the Cancer Gap in Nepal progress

A positive impact is being made in Nepal through our ‘Closing the Cancer Gap’ project that started in October 2020 with the help from you and the UK Government. Learn more about how the project is going and what World Child Cancer is achieving for childhood cancer in Nepal so far through your support.

Thanks to all the support given to our ‘Closing the Cancer Gap’ appeal, we are now mid-way through our three-year programme in Nepal, which started in October 2020. With your help and the UK Government’s, the appeal raised £506,283, including £248,712 of match funding, which will improve healthcare access for some of the most vulnerable children across the world. 

High-income countries like the UK see a survival rate of around 86% in childhood cancers, while in low and middle-income countries like Nepal, the survival is estimated to be just 7%. This is because of poor rates of and late diagnosis- a result of low levels of public awareness- and inadequate access to healthcare- due to the high costs of treatment and poor health infrastructure. The matched funding from the UK Government for the project is being used to ensure a better quality of life for children who are expected to present with cancer in Nepal. 

Our Psychosocial Support Advisor, Megan Cruise recently delivered in person Psychosocial Support Training over a three-day workshop for 15 nurses in Nepal: 

This is a workshop that I developed with the aim of helping nurses to offer the best possible support to families, and to help them build their own resilience in their work. This will have a positive impact on many families throughout the hospital.

UK Aid Match two ladies standing side by side, nurse from Nepal and Psychosocial Support Advisor from UK World Child Cancer
Megan Cruise with Paediatric Oncology Nurse, Kabita Jirel at Kanti Children's Hospital during psychosocial support training workshop, July 2022

One of the nurses, Kabita Jirel, Senior Hospital Nursing Supervisor shares of her experience on the training provided through World Child Cancer:

It has helped to motivate me and work properly with patients, families, and colleagues, allowing us to maintain a good relationship with families. We are now supporting families properly and we have a better understanding from their side.

World Child Cancer UK Aid Match Psychosocial Support Training in Nepal Closing the Cancer Gap Project
Psychosocial support training for nurses workshop at Kanti Children's Hospital

There is great progress being made to help improve the outcomes for children with cancer in Nepal. The involvement of the different key players such as the staff at Kanti Children’s Hospital, World Health Organisation, Ministry of Health, and the incredible paediatric oncology team is helping to lead the way for paediatric oncology across Asia.

All of this would not have been possible without the vital support from supporters like yourself and the match funding from the UK Government. I believe that with all our combined efforts and your continuous support, we will be able to close the childhood cancer gap worldwide and I can’t wait to see the progress in Nepal in the near future.

Over 1,000 children in Nepal are expected to develop cancer per year, but only a quarter of them will receive an accurate diagnosis. World Child Cancer is seeking to improve this by equipping over 100 healthcare workers with skills in childhood cancer diagnosis, management, and care. Public donations and the UK Government continue to fund other programmes in low- and middle-income countries around the world, so that we can create a world where every child with cancer has equal access to treatment and care. 

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 or finding us on social media.

Uttam’s Story

Meet Uttam – just one of the 662 children as part of our ‘Closing the Cancer Gap’ appeal, including matched funding from the UK Government. 

Read more

Alile’s Story

Discover Alile’s journey through cancer as recounted by her mother, from the initial symptoms to diagnosis and treatment.

Read more

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

Discover More Stories…

Uttam’s Story

Meet Uttam – just one of the 662 children as part of our ‘Closing the Cancer Gap’ appeal, including matched funding from the UK Government. 

Read more

Alile’s Story

Discover Alile’s journey through cancer as recounted by her mother, from the initial symptoms to diagnosis and treatment.

Read more

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
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Together we can close the gap in childhood cancer care.

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