When Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad said his voice could be counted on as an advocate for childhood cancer, he would have inspired families of children living with cancer around the country.
Prof Prasad said this while officiating at the launching of the Walk On Walk Strong (WOWS) Kids Fiji Childhood Cancer Awareness Month yesterday in Suva.
The Coalition Government, he said, would continue to partner with WOWS Kids Fiji through the Ministry of Health and Medical Services Paediatric Oncology Units at CWM Hospital and Lautoka Hospital, the Fiji Cancer Society, and the National Paediatric Oncology Committee, towards combating the sickness.
“There are not enough words to express how grateful and lucky we are to have an organisation like WOWS Kids Fiji to stand in the gap providing a very necessary bridge between our young patients, and the hospitals,” he said.
They were powerful words and would have been acknowledged by all those working and sitting behind the scenes, doing their little bit for childhood cancer awareness.
“In Fiji, we sadly lose an average of 20 pediatric oncology patients each year. It is essential that creating awareness on childhood cancer should be everyone’s responsibility.”
In response to a request for a piece of land, Prof Prasad confirmed the Government would be happy to support the construction of a resource centre by WOWS Kids Fiji.
It was humbling, he said, to see people engaged with organisations like WOWS Kids Fiji, looking after children suffering from cancer along with their families. Early detection for cancer is vital in making sure our children are healthy.
In fact we should be talking about it and promoting early detection.
Today, there are parents and guardians in Fiji who live with children who are suffering from cancer.
Next month, August, is set aside for childhood cancer awareness.
We have said this before, that there are families and their affected children living among us.
Some may be our neighbours and children of our friends, or friends of our children. Whenever cancer is raised, many of us have a pre-conceived notion that death looms.
That is scary. It is difficult to appreciate what parents and guardians who have children living with cancer go through daily.
For many children at the CWM Hospital’s Oncology Ward in Suva for instance, it is difficult to tell that some of them are quite sick.
In between rounds of strong medication, some of which are very painful, they do things little children are expected to do.
Being diagnosed with a serious illness does impact family members who have to live with the knowledge that their loved one is different.
This is why early detection is a critical part of fighting cancer. It can make a difference.
As we acknowledge Prof Prasad’s statement, we should be a part of this worthwhile cause, to understand, appreciate and embrace childhood cancer awareness. Let’s do this for our children!
