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
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.
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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 moreJoseph’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.
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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.
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