Dr Emily Gogo, Trustee, Little Angel Trust, a charity organisation, says early detection of cancer helps to recognise potential signs of illness for treatment.
Dr Gogo, therefore, urged parents to be attentive to and report any symptoms, including sudden changes in vision, eye swelling, and a new limp or change in walking, to the health facility for urgent attention.
She said this at the weekend after an eight-mile “love walk” from the circle SSNIT branch to Korle-bu hospital to create awareness of childhood cancer in the country.
The exercise was also part of activities to mark the 20th anniversary of Little Angel Trust.
“I know that a lot of people struggle with the financial issues in dealing with cancer disease. Little Angels Trust is a charity organisation that is trying to bridge the gap between those who cannot afford it and those who can.
“So if you can’t afford treatment, come to the hospital, enquire about Little Angels Trust, and we can do our best to try and support you as you go through this,” he said.
Research estimates that about 80 per cent of children with cancer can be cured if diagnosed early and the disease is treated in specialised centres.
Globally, childhood cancer remains a formidable health challenge that affects thousands of families each year.
Dr Gogo said the organisation over the years had been supporting children with cancer disease, adding that five children are being helped financially this year.
She commended the government for adding four cancer diseases to the National Health Insurance Scheme treatment list and called for more to improve health care in the country.
Mrs Lavina Dame, Founder and Chair of Trustee, Little Angel Trust, said children were the future, and that any society that could not recognise are not doing their work well.
It’s our responsibility to make sure that we are passing on to the next generation; otherwise, everything that we are building will be for nothing.
She said over the years, the organisation had been supporting Korle-bu hospital, Princess Marie Louise Hospital,Accra Psychiatric hospital and the Mamobi hospital.
“Cancer is one of the most expensive illnesses to treat and one of the most deadly. It takes a lot more lives than any other illness that I know.
“Cancer can be treated. We’ve got a few children that we have supported over the years,” she said.
The organisation presented medical suppliers, including boxes of safety syringes with needles, hand sanitisers, face masks, gloves, detergents, cloths, and antiseptic wipes, among others.
Ms Faustina Amoako, Principal Nursing Officer, Department of Child Health Oncology Unit, Korle-Bu Hospital, thanked the organisation for their continuous support and pledged to use the items for their intended purposes.
She appealed to corporate institutions to come to the aid of the hospital and support children with cancer.
