Expressnews
Chennai, September 2023: In honor ofChildhood Cancer Awareness Month -September, the National Society for Childhood Cancer in India, CANKIDS…KIDSCAN, in collaboration with Phoenix Marketcity, organized a series of fun filled activities in a highly intriguing awareness program curated specially for children with cancer. The initiative brought together families, survivors, healthcareproviders, and well-known personalities topromote awareness, provide support, and sharevaluable resources amidst an entertainingevening.
The event featured a heartwarming interactionbetween Super Singer Junior Winner – MasterKrishaang and the children, spreading hope andconfidence. Volunteers from Stella Maris College, WCC, Thiruthangal Nadar College,Guru Nanak College and BOAT Band joined withCANKIDS KIDSCAN to showcase their support,warmth, love, and hope through various culturalperformances.
The month-long campaign with a focus on amplified impact through focused attention,effective collaborations, and tie-ups in the formof dedicated outreach and events like dance,mime, songs, doctor’s talk, patients’ testimonies, and skits offering support to affected individuals created awareness on childhood cancer. Furthermore, it encourages to improve access to care, treatments, outcomes, and quality of life for children with Cancer among the public and to dispel the myths andmisconceptions on Childhood Cancer.
“In the last five years we have been working with state governments, hospital partners andthe Pediatric oncology community to understandthe barriers to Access2Care for children withCancer in India. For children who make it to childhood cancer treating centres, the averagecountry-wide survival rate is about 50%.Through detailed mapping in many states, andacross 125 centres treating children with cancer, we estimate that not more than 34-40% children are reaching a cancer centre anywhere in the country. This is what makes survival rates in countries like ours not more than 25-35%,” explained Ms.Poonam Bagai, Founder Chairman, CANKIDS…KIDSCAN, and herself a colon cancer survivor.
“Each year, 3686 children of Tamil Nadu andPuducherry get childhood cancer and only about58% of the children reach any cancer treating centre which means a whopping 42% have noAccess to Care within or outside the state,” said by Ms. Latha Mani, Regional Head – South CANKIDS…KIDSCAN.
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month (CCAM),observed every September by childhood cancerorganizations worldwide, turns the world Gold as a symbol of the precious and pricelessnature of our children, much like Gold. The goal of CCAM is to raise awareness, advocate forthose affected by childhood cancer, and generate funds through proactive campaigns and events to combat the impact of cancer on the community. This September, the focus is onspreading crucial information and inspiringpositive action on this important topic.
