World Child Cancer and City Cancer Challenge Foundation join forces to support children with cancer in Myanmar

World Child Cancer have partnered with City Cancer Challenge Foundation (C/Can) to improve access to quality cancer care for children at Yangon Children’s Hospital (YCH), Myanmar, during a time of political crisis in the country.

C/Can’s partnership model improves access to quality cancer care in cities around the world by transforming the way stakeholders from the public and private sectors collectively design, plan, and implement cancer solutions.

At YCH, this means adopting a holistic approach through:

• Supporting the travel costs for the patients to be able to follow up regularly at YCH
• Covering costs of diagnostic laboratory tests to determine the required treatment
• Providing nutrition support for patients (many of whom are malnourished) to help improve treatment tolerance and outcomes
• Counselling and education through school activities and play therapy

A father holds a child on a green rowing boat in the middle of a river
Many families travel for hours to reach hospital. Supporting them with on-site accommodation or transport grants has a huge positive impact on children being able to continue treatment

According to the United Nations, urban poverty is on course to triple in Myanmar in 2022, pushing nearly half the population below the poverty line.

By supporting families to cover transport, accommodation, and nutrition, we are benefitting the entire family, who face the burden of health expenditure when a child develops cancer – this includes the parents/caregivers of each child, as well as siblings, who we are helping prevent from falling further into poverty or debt.

The partnership between World Child Cancer and City Cancer Challenge is providing vital support for children with cancer in Myanmar’s former capital at a time of huge uncertainty and unrest. The emphasis on psychosocial support means that children are not only able to access the diagnostics and drugs that they need, but that the whole family’s wellbeing is taken into consideration. We know that this plays a considerable part in children continuing treatment and overall survival.”

In the last three months of 2021, a total of 411 children had access to diagnosis and treatment at YCH. This included investigative and treatment support for 192 children, with 17 different types of cancer – the most common being Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL). It also included grants for accommodation, nutrition and transport for families with financial difficulties.  Education (including maths, science and English sessions), play therapy, health education and counselling was provided to 208 children.

The partnership between World Child Cancer and C/Can has been highly successful, delivering on all activities and providing life-saving care for children with cancer in a time of uncertainty and unrest in Myanmar. We look forward to sharing more information about the overall impact of the project following its conclusion in March 2022.

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

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

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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

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Meet Bulu

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

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Meet Oscar

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

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Will you join us?

Together we can close the gap in childhood cancer care.

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