NGO Celebrates International Child Cancer Day, Gives Cancer Treatment Drugs

A Non-Governmental Organization, Patela Care Foundation has donated cancer treatment drugs to the South West 2 ward of the University Teaching Hospital (UCH) to mark the 2023 international Childhood Cancer Day 

 The NGO joined the global collaborative campaign to promote childhood cancer awareness, and advocacy by expressing support for children and adolescents with cancer, the survivors, and their families.

 The foundation through its executive director Dr. Foluke Sarimiye said the donation was made to express support for the patients and their families.

According to her “Childhood cancer is becoming rampant and we want cancer patients to know that they are not alone in the fight against the dreaded disease.” 

The Head of the Department of Pediatrics Dr. Asinobi Adanze while who identified childhood cancer as one of the leading cause of death in children below 18yrs , pleaded for the support of government bodies and well-meaning individuals towards the treatment of childhood cancer in Nigeria. 

“There is no known cause of childhood cancer, and it occurs regularly and randomly across all ethnic groups as some children are even born with cancer.” She explained 

The Chairman (MAC), Dr. Abiodun Adeoye represented by his Deputy Chairman Clinical Services, Dr. Taiwo Soyinka, buttressed that the drug donation will ease the burden of expenses and ensure healthy living for the patients.

Her words “Cancer drugs are very expensive, thus, the foundation deemed it fit to save the lives of these kids by providing the drugs free of charge. I believe they will help cushion some expenses that will otherwise have been incurred by the parents. The Hospital welcomes this gesture and many more that will come,” 

 The drug donation was recorded and made public through the University College Hospital( UCH) Facebook page.