A Pediatrician specialist at the Pediatric Oncology Unit of the Komfo AnokyeTeaching Hospital (KATH), Dr. Yvonne Addo has added her voice to the call on the government to include the treatment of childhood cancer in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
Its inclusion, she said would help absolve the expensive treatment of the disease and increase the attention given to it.
Globally 300,000 cases of childhood cancers are recorded annually at the various health centers with about 70 percent left untreated.
Dr. Yvonne Addo was speaking to the media after receiving some food items and cash from the Deputy Chief of Staff Hon. Francis Asenso-Boakye to support the unit’s end of year party for the children.
According to her , the unit has recorded quite a number of childhood cancer cases and since its treatment is not covered by the NHIS coupled with the expensive drugs required for treatment , most parents are unable to complete treatment for their wards due to financial constraints .
The situation she said leads to increase in childhood cancer related deaths .
She said children with cancers are vulnerable and there is the need for the country to ensure the right resources are put in place for treatment to safeguard their future.
She noted that the most effective strategies for economic growth is to invest in the developmental growth of at-risk young children.
Dr. Addo after receiving the items expressed gratitude to the Deputy Chief Asenso and Dr Ernest Kwarko for the kind gesture and continuous support for the unit.
The deputy chief of staff who is now the elected Member of Parliament of the Bantama constituency has been supporting the unit for the past five years.
Dr Ernest Kwarko, a founder of Philia Heart Foundation who presented the items on behalf of the donor called on the well to do in the country to support the call on the inclusion of the treatment of childhood cancers on the NHIS.
