The National Cancer Coalition, in partnership with ADRA International, provided pediatric cancer medicines for the needy patients being treated at the Komfo Anokye Hospital in Kumasi and at the Korle-Bu Hospital in Accra.
The Need
Cancer rates are increasing significantly in Ghana. As with many poor
African countries, adult and pediatric cancer patients are only provided
with the cancer medicines that they or their families are able to purchase.
Being diagnosed with cancer is often considered a stigma and victims
of cancer often feel that they acquired the disease because of their
misdeeds or those of their ancestors. Survival rates are quite low for
those diagnosed with cancer, as most Ghanaians could not afford the required
medicines without help from international support organizations.
Hospital
The Komfo Anokye Hospital in Kumasi and the Korle-Bu Hospital in Accra are the 2 largest hospitals in Ghana that treat cancer patients. According to Hematology Director Dr. Ivy Ekem, the diagnoses of many types of cancer have risen significantly in the last few years. This is due primarily to two factors: (1) early detections; and (2) the rise in the number of patients that are actually coming to the hospitals to be treated.
Distribution
NCC and our local partner ADRA Ghana provided large quantities of the pediatric leukemia medicine methotrexate. The quantities donated will enable doctors to treat all of Ghana’s pediatric cancer patients for the next 2 to 3 years. NCC and ADRA representatives met with Deputy Minister of Health Dr. Gladys Ashitey in her government offices to officially hand-over this donation to Ghana, which the Deputy Minister indicated was extremely important in their fight to treat pediatric leukemia.
Result
The National Cancer Coalition's donation is giving opportunity to hundreds of Ghanaian children who are suffering from leukemia. We are making a difference in Ghana, on child at a time.