Hon. Nakate Kikomeko (centre) with hospital administrators and medical staff at the Uganda Cancer Institute.
It is estimated that between 3,000 and 5,000 children in Uganda are diagnosed with cancer each year, but research from the World Health Organization shows that only a few of them receive treatment, and up to 70 percent die annually.
In an effort to help save children from cancer, the Minister for Social Development in the Buganda Kingdom, Hon. Choltilda Nakate Kikomeko, visited the Uganda Cancer Institute at Mulago Hospital, particularly the children’s ward for patients under 18 years of age. Her visit aimed to inspire hope among the young patients and to participate in fundraising efforts to build a hostel for patients and medical staff at the institute.
Dr. Suzan Nabakooza, head of the paediatric cancer ward, explained that they treat all children under 18, while those above that age are transferred to the adult ward but continue to receive follow-up care. She noted the urgent need for a hostel since the children’s ward is too small for the growing number of patients.
Dr. Nabakooza also highlighted some of the most common cancers affecting children, including leukaemia (blood cancer), eye cancer, testicular cancer, throat cancer, bone and muscle cancers, and other rare forms which require advanced diagnostic equipment to identify.
She encouraged parents to seek medical help early, saying that most childhood cancers are curable if detected in time. She also urged them not to stigmatise their children, stressing that cancer is not infectious but results from various causes still under research.
Speaking about chemotherapy, Dr. Nabakooza said:
“When cancer attacks the body, it weakens it. The medicine we give also weakens the body as it destroys the cancer cells, but this process allows healthy cells to recover and grow stronger. We are always grateful for those who support us to give these children a chance to survive.”
Mr. Moses Echodu, head of the Uganda Child Cancer Foundation, said their current priority is to construct a hostel for child patients, as many parents struggle to bring their children for regular treatment, leading to delays in recovery.
Minister Nakate Kikomeko commended the Uganda Child Cancer Foundation for its vision to expand the children’s facilities, saying:
“The Foundation wants to see all of us helping children with cancer by building this hostel. Transport challenges often affect patients, so this initiative is vital for our country.”
Mr. David Muwonge, the Buganda Kingdom Health Coordinator, urged the Foundation to focus on educating the public about the causes of cancer and called for stricter control of harmful products, citing new electronic cigarettes as one of the dangers that should be addressed to protect children.