13 Feb 2017

Cancer Association of Botswana is partnering with Ladies Circle Botswana to raise funds to build a paediatric facility in Gaborone.  A press release from the association says the facility will provide psychosocial support for the patients and their caregivers which will equip them with better coping skills.
It states that the dedicated Paediatric Oncology programme at Princess Marina Hospital began in 2007 with the support of Baylor College of Medicine and Texas children’s cancer and Haematology centre.
If further says that the programme has seen tremendous growth over the last 3 years, with approximately 50 new cancer diagnoses per year during this time period.
On the origin of Ladies Circle, the release states that it was formed in Botswana in 1980 and accommodates women aged between 18-45 years.
The non-profit organization subscribes to the same aims and objectives of Ladies Circle International which is to assist in community service and also build friendships, states the release, adding that all of their community projects are financed through private individual donations as well as fund raising events.
The Motto of the Organisation is “friendship and service”.
Meanwhile the release also points out that the International Childhood Cancer Day is celebrated annually on 15 February.  The day is said to provide an opportunity for the world to come together to raise awareness about childhood cancer and the terrible toll it continues to take on children and families around the world.
It says it is an opportunity to show support for childhood cancer warriors and survivors around the world and their families, as well as to honour the memories of those children whose young lives has been cut short all too soon by childhood cancer, reveals the release. It release points out that every year, thousands of children across the world are diagnosed with cancer, an often life threatening illness that remains the leading cause of death by disease for children under the age of 15.
The release further states that with access to quality care, more than 80 percent of children with cancer could survive, living full and healthy lives.
Additionally,  it also states that however, many children in low-income and middle income countries do not receive or complete care and as a result, over 90 percent of childhood cancer deaths occur in low resource settings.
The press release points out that Botswana is no exception on cancer related cases among children which are on the rise.
It states that the causes of paediatric or childhood cancer are still largely unknown, adding that new discoveries are resulting in new treatments.
It further states that this heartbreaking disease continues to scar families and communities in ways that may never fully heal. ENDS