Page 19 - Cornwall issue 1 2022

CHILDHOOD CANCER FOUNDATION

KEEPING MORE THAN
KEEPING MORE THAN

HOPE ALIVE
HOPE ALIVE

uring the national lockdown, CHOC psycho-social support in
Childhood Cancer Foundation SA all its paediatric oncology
Dhas kept its programmes running. wards. These services
Their houses have remained open and their include individual
social workers have continued to provide counselling, preparing
the child for medical
the various programmes in the paediatric procedures, parent
oncology wards. During this period, they support groups, palliative Seth Kruger,
have continued providing core services to end of life care and a cancer
survivor
the children, teenagers and families that they bereavement support.
serve.
EMOTIONAL AND
CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation PRACTICAL SUPPORT
(CHOC) is the only organisation that In order to render
provides comprehensive country-wide comprehensive emotional
support for children with cancer and other support, CHOC has various
life-threatening blood disorders, and their support groups such as survivors,
families. parent support, volunteers, parent teas
in the paediatric oncology units and post
The organisation’s holistic approach includes treatment support. They also offer basic
emotional support in the hospital wards, necessities such as care bags, food parcels
from diagnosis onwards, and practical and bereavement support.
support ranging from accommodation,
transport, care bags and basic nutritional ACCOMMODATION
support. Many children come from outlying rural AWARENESS TRAINING
areas and CHOC offers accommodation CHOC trains healthcare professionals,
Without CHOC’s support, many children – to them and their parents, where its traditional healers and communities on the
particularly those from low income families ‘home away from home’ is situated close early warning signs of childhood cancer.
living far from treatment centres, would not to the paediatric oncology wards. In Adequate training at grass roots ensures that
be able to access or adhere to the necessary Gauteng South, a house in Saxonwold children reach specialised treatment centres
but arduous treatment cycle, which can last can accommodate nine children and nine in time to receive effective treatment, as well
over three years. caregivers. It is situated close to Charlotte as having access to essential medicine and
Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital care.
The economic situation in which we find and the Donald Gordon Hospital. Two houses
ourselves means that there is a large in Diepkloof accommodate ten children and One out of 408 children in South Africa
percentage of individuals who are currently ten caregivers. These houses are situated under the age of 16 might be diagnosed
unemployed or temporarily without income. close to Chris Hani Baragwanth Academic with cancer and around 55% of those
It is this reality that many families are facing. Hospital. The houses alleviate the financial diagnosed survive. In developed countries
The Coronavirus has greatly increased the strain for many families by providing the recovery rate is 80-90%.
needs of many families and there has been accommodation during their childrens'
a significant increase in the demand for cancer treatment. Without accommodation, TO MAKE A DONATION
services, especially accommodation, food many families not living in the major centres The Coronavirus has greatly increased
parcels, bereavement support and transport where the paediatric oncology wards the needs of these families and there has
funds. are located, would not be able to access been a significant increase in the demand
treatment or would abandon it. for CHOC’s services. In addition, and of
Currently, CHOC’s essential services are grave concern is the fact that children and
needed more than ever to ensure that the TRANSPORT AND TRANSPORT teens who are undergoing treatment, and
children are safe, have a place to stay while GRANTS who have had cancer, are at higher risk of
attending treatment and that the parents CHOC vehicles transport children and their contracting the Coronavirus by virtue of their
and caregivers are relieved of the financial parents/caregivers to and from the houses compromised immune systems.
stress of having to provide food, protection, and hospitals. Consider becoming a regular donor through
accommodation and support to their sick a debit order.
child. Bus/taxi fares are given to parents/caregivers
and their children on recommendation of
The core services offered nationwide are as a social worker, ensuring that no child is If you would like to make
follows: precluded from accessing and adhering to a donation, please contact
treatment. During the last financial year, Antonella Swanepoel at
PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT CHOC was able to assist 4076 children, antonella.swanepoel@choc.org.za
CHOC employs a team of social workers/ teenagers and their parents with transport
social auxiliary workers that provide full time funds to the value of R164 602.00.
Cornwall View • Issue 1 2021 17