By Olasunkanmi Onifade
KindNest Care Foundation (KCF), a Non-Governmental Organisation, has called for increased support for children battling cancer, urging Nigerians to show love and provide financial assistance to affected patients.
A member of the Board of Trustees of KCF, Mr Abiodun Bamidele, made the call during a visit to the Inpatient Paediatric Ward of the National Hospital Abuja on Wednesday.
He said the visit formed part of activities to commemorate Children’s Day and provide financial support to children undergoing cancer treatment.
Bamidele described the donation as a token and part of the Foundation’s routine outreach programmes in Abuja, Lagos and other locations.
“It’s something we do regularly. We hope to do more in future by giving back to society, caring for children and helping those struggling with medical bills.
“Many of the children are unable to pay their hospital bills. Although the support is small, we are happy to contribute to their wellbeing.
“Today is Children’s Day, and it is important for us to celebrate with them,” he said.
Bamidele added that every child deserves to be healthy and happy.
Dr Juliet Okpala, a Senior Registrar in the Department of Paediatrics and a member of the oncology team, said some of the common cases treated at the hospital included leukaemia, retinoblastoma (eye cancer), kidney cancer and neuroblastoma.
She said many of the patients were indigent, while even financially stable families often exhausted their resources because of the high cost of cancer treatment.
“Every support they receive from external sources goes a long way. We appreciate KCF for supporting our children and lifting their spirits,” she said.
Speaking on prevention, Okpala explained that most childhood cancers had no clearly known causes, although some genetic and environmental factors had been linked to the disease.
“Certain chemicals, such as benzene, have been linked to cancer, so avoiding exposure can help.
“Exposure to ionising radiation from some X-rays can also increase cancer risk, so unnecessary exposure should be avoided,” she said.
She urged parents to seek further medical evaluation when a child remained ill despite repeated malaria treatment.
“When cancer is diagnosed early, the chances of successful treatment are higher.
“If a child has been sick for a long time and is repeatedly being treated for malaria, parents should consider further investigations,” she said.
Also speaking, a Senior Nursing Officer and second-in-charge of the Inpatient Paediatric Ward, Mrs Mercy Gracious-Vine, stressed the need to reassure children battling cancer of love and support, despite the stigma often associated with the disease.
She noted that the financial burden of treatment often left families overwhelmed and appealed to the public to support affected children.
“I am very happy to see people come to celebrate and support them. It means a lot that they are remembered on a special day like this,” she said.
On prevention, she advised parents to reduce children’s consumption of canned and fast foods, encouraging more natural diets.
“We should try to minimise consumption of canned foods and encourage healthier natural foods,” she said.
The Northern Regional Coordinator of KCF, Mrs Bola Jamgbadi, said the aim of the Foundation was to put smiles on the faces of the children and remind them that hope was stronger than fear.
“These young warriors fight difficult battles every day with courage beyond their age, and today we want them to know they are not alone,” she said.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Anthonia Kingsley, whose son was diagnosed with leukaemia and had spent three weeks in hospital, described the financial support as a relief.
Another beneficiary, Mrs Amaka Ugbor, whose son is battling cancer of the white blood cells, said the support would go a long way in assisting the family.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that following its establishment in 2012 and registration in 2013, the Foundation began humanitarian visitation programmes to orphanages, correctional centres, hospitals, children’s homes and welfare institutions across Nigeria.
One of its earliest institutional engagements was an informal partnership with the Lagos State Special Approved School and Correctional Centre, Idi-Araba, Lagos, where it commenced annual visitation and support programmes in 2013.
The visits continued consistently except during the COVID-19 pandemic years of 2020 and 2021.
Over the years, KindNest Care Foundation has expanded its humanitarian interventions across several states, supporting vulnerable children, hospital patients, correctional institutions, orphanages and care homes.
The support is provided through donations, welfare interventions, advocacy and emotional support programmes. (NAN)
Edited by Tosin Kolade
