Tata Memorial Hospital
MUMBAI: One of the casualties of the Covid-19 pandemic has been a sharp drop almost 75% in funding for free treatment of pediatric cancer patients.
Tata Memorial Hospital, the department of atomic energy-run cancer hub in Parel, provides free treatment for children under 10 years of age (its network of social workers organizes funding for older children as well).
As against Rs 25 crore that the hospital gathered in 2019 through corporate social responsiblity (CSR) funding for pediatric cancer treatment, it has managed promises for barely 25% of the sum. Most such funding in 2020 was channelised to the Covid-19 crisis across the country.
MANGALURU: “I want to join the Indian Army,” said a teenager who had recovered from cancer.
At a conversation with ‘Little Heroes’ (childhood cancer survivors) organised by KMC Hospital as part of the International Childhood Cancer Day, children, who have been recovered from cancer, expressed their ambitions of scaling greater heights in life, be it as a police officer, pro-Kabaddi player or a youtuber.
“Where there is a will there is cure,” said Dr Harsha Prasad L, pediatric hemato oncologist, KMC Hospital.
Thanking cricketer Harbhajan Singh for supplying cancer medicines to Shashank (name changed), Dr Prasad said that the poor family of the child was unable to bear the cost of treatment. “Parents should not be demotivated when their children suffer from cancer. If you have the willpower, you can fight cancer,” he said.