IN a world where the diagnosis of childhood cancer can shatter worlds and dim hope, the work of Walk On Walk Strong (WOWS) Kids Fiji is critically important.
The organisation supports 57 children living with cancer, with 17 undergoing treatment, 14 in post-recovery, nine receiving medical care, and 17 surviving beyond five years.
Launching the 2025 National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica highlighted the emotional and financial toll on families and praised WOWS Kids Fiji’s critical role.
“We are here because we believe no child should fight cancer alone,” he said.
Government assistance would continue, he stressed.
He also spoke about the importance of early detection.
WOWS Kids Fiji is like a lifeline for children and families navigating the devastating journey of childhood cancer.
It is tough when families learn their loved one is suffering from cancer. It is frightening and for many families, death is inevitable!
They suffer with their loved one. There is pain and suffering.
There is a sense of insecurity, fear, frustration, and anger sometimes.
The emotional and financial toll of childhood cancer is huge.
Families are uprooted, jobs are lost, siblings are affected, and daily life becomes an endless cycle of hospital visits, treatments, and worry.
For many, this journey would be impossible without the support of WOWS.
They step in to bridge the gap between hospital and home, fear and hope, despair and dignity.
Central to their mission is the urgent call for early detection.
As highlighted by Deputy Prime Minister Kamikamica, catching cancer in its earliest stages can make the difference between life and death.
But WOWS cannot do this alone. Government support, both in policy and funding, is important to ensure that the burden does not fall solely on the shoulders of bodies like WOWS and volunteers.
The Deputy Prime Minister’s assurance of continued government assistance is both welcome and necessary.
As we mark the 2025 National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, let us remember that the battle against childhood cancer is not one that any organisation or family should face alone.
So let us be engaged as citizens, as leaders, as neighbours, and as human beings.
We say acknowledgement is due to all those who play a role in assisting our little warriors and their families.
Let’s make a difference together!
