Latifa, aged 3, Ghana
Latifa came from a large, loving family in Zoosali, a village in northern Ghana. She was just three years old when she developed eye cancer.
Latifa’s family first noticed that something was wrong when a white spot appeared in her eye. When traditional medicines and eye drops failed to work, Latifa’s parents took her to the eye clinic at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi where she underwent eye removal surgery.
The surgery cost Latifa’s family two months’ income, leaving them under severe financial pressure. Without enough money to pay for the chemotherapy she needed they were forced to return home. Soon after, the tumour returned. The family eventually managed to raise money for further treatment and Latifa made the 17-hour journey to Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra with her mother and two siblings.
Unfortunately, the treatment came too late… but it did not have to be this way.
World Child Cancer provides support to some of the poorest and most vulnerable families in the world. By paying for treatment, we can stop more children dying from treatable diseases due to financial constrictions.
By forming partnerships between medical professionals in high income countries with those in low and middle income countries, we can provide training for medical professionals on the early warning signs of cancer thus enabling a faster route to treating children with cancer.
Children like Latifa deserve a childhood and a future. 1,300 children are expected to develop cancer each year in Ghana. Just £25 could pay for accurate diagnosis for one child with cancer, ensuring they are given the correct treatment, increasing their chances of survival.
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 moreKayin’s story
Kayin was diagnosed with Burkitt’s Lymphoma. He is now working as a carpenter and is feeling happy and strong.
Read moreRebecca’s Update
Read more about our catch-up with Rebecca after undergoing cancer treatment through World Child Cancer in Ghana six years ago.
Read moreTiwo’s story
Five years after developing cancer and two years of treatment later, six-year-old Tiwo is doing well
Read moreHassan’s story
14-year-old Hassan from the Machinga district of Malawi was diagnosed with Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) last year.
Read moreDiscover More Stories…
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 moreKayin’s story
Kayin was diagnosed with Burkitt’s Lymphoma. He is now working as a carpenter and is feeling happy and strong.
Read moreRebecca’s Update
Read more about our catch-up with Rebecca after undergoing cancer treatment through World Child Cancer in Ghana six years ago.
Read moreHassan’s story
14-year-old Hassan from the Machinga district of Malawi was diagnosed with Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) last year.
Read moreTiwo’s story
Five years after developing cancer and two years of treatment later, six-year-old Tiwo is doing well
Read moreFranklyn’s Story
Meet Franklyn, now 17, who is fully recovered from cancer and dreams of becoming a doctor to help others
Read moreRebecca’s Success Story
Rebecca is now able to return to school after undergoing cancer treatment through World Child Cancer in Ghana
Read moreMy 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 moreEstaphanie 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 moreMeet Bulu
Bulu is looking forward to following in his brother’s footsteps getting back on the football field
Read moreMeet 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