Include childhood cancer in NHIS
The Ghana Childhood Cancer Network, in collaboration with the Paediatric Society of Ghana, is calling on policymakers to include the cost of treatment of childhood cancers in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
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It said the cost of treatment for childhood cancer remained high “as everything, including anticancer drugs, supportive care and hospital admissions are still completely borne by parents.”
A statement issued to mark September as childhood cancer awareness month said “generally, a third of patients abandon treatment and eventually die and another third succumb within days to weeks of presentation due to advanced disease. Only about a third of all patients go on to complete treatment.”
Treatment of childhood cancer
The statement said it was not surprising as treatment of childhood cancers could take between four months and three years, adding that the financial demands on families were enormous, including transportation costs, loss of income and sometimes treatment might require relocation to the vicinity of the treatment centre.
“A diagnosis of childhood cancer dramatically changes the dynamics of any family. The responsibility for ensuring cure should be shared by all, including government, private sector, non-governmental and religious organisations, philanthropists, parents and healthcare professionals,” it stated.
Awareness month
“September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month. Let us all join hands in advocating and supporting the move to ensure that no child affected by cancer in Ghana suffers needlessly.
“We are calling on policymakers to include childhood cancers on the NHIS, include screening for eye cancer at child weighing clinics, support childhood cancer awareness creation activities nationwide and facilitate capacity building in all aspects of care,” the statement said.
It said every child had the right to equity in accessing quality health care in Ghana and to achieving a full life.
The statement further said: “We stand the best chance of curing childhood cancers when they are diagnosed early, when patients with suspected cancer present early to our referral centres.
Symptoms
It said it was common to attribute headache and vomiting to other causes or even ignore them as tension headaches till they became persistent and/or severe.
“Of note, cancers may present without any pain; thus, painless swellings, unexplained bleeding, unprovoked bruising, headaches and vomiting,
especially in the early hours of the day, protracted fever, especially not responding to usual treatment; white spots in the eye of babies and children and unexplained weight loss must be immediately reported to healthcare practitioners who should investigate appropriately,” the statement said.
