Story by Abigirl Tembo, Health Editor
THE fight against childhood cancer is gaining momentum, with the World Health Organisation’s ambitious goal of a 60 percent global survival rate by 2030 becoming a reality.
The progress has been given impetus by a growing spirit of collaboration, with corporates stepping up to support organisations like the KidzCan Rainbow Children’s Home.
KidzCan Rainbow Village offers crucial respite to children undergoing cancer treatment at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.
It provided accommodation, medication and food to 64 children and their guardians in 2023 alone, alleviating a significant burden during their challenging journey.
CABS and Pick n Pay have chipped in with donations from their “Orange Month” fundraising efforts in February to the tune of US$37 000.
The funds will directly support the running of the KidzCan home which offers treatment, food and accommodation to children suffering from cancer and their guardians.
“All of us have been touched by cancer one way or the other and what you do as Kidzcan is amazing and for us to be part of this, it is really an honour. We believe doing good is good business and this US$22 000 is our small way of giving back to the society,” said TM Pick n Pay managing director, Malcom Mycroft.
“Kidzcan has been leading the way providing support, care and hope to the brave kids and their families through clinical care, emotional support and financial support. They have become a beacon of hope for those in need. And we hope our US$15 000 will be able to assist them,” noted CABS chief executive officer, Mr Mehluli Mpofu.
KidzCan board member, Mr Jacob Mukamba weighed in saying, “The WHO target for 2030 is 60% survival of all childhood cancer cases detected and as KidzCan what we are saying is we cannot do this fight alone, we need partners on board. We have had today three partners coming in with various donations, one came in with US$22 000 and the other US$15 000 and what we are making is a wider call to the rest of the corporates. Bring in whatever you can chemicals, goods, blankets resources.”
She added, “There is the Rainbow Children’s Village were we house children who come through our halfway house as they go between the hospital runs and their hohouse. We need resources to feed them we need all hands on deck to help take care of them and as corporates you have various things that you can bring on board.”
For mothers like Ms Trish Kundiona, whose daughter is a cancer survivor, KidzCan and its sponsors are lifesavers.
“During my journey when Tanaka was ill, KidzCan really helped me from diagnostics to treatment and chemotherapy. My daughter had nine cycles of chemotherapy and countless CT scans and everything was being paid for by KidzCan because I did not have any money, so I would really like to thank the sponsors for making my journey easier,” she said.
The collaboration between healthcare institutions, non-governmental organisations, and the corporate world is paving the way for a brighter future for children battling cancer.
Zimbabwe is among 70 countries actively committed to the WHO’s global initiative to achieve a 60 percent childhood cancer survival rate by 2030.
