Childhood cancer patient numbers are on the rise with an extremely high mortality rate of approximately 75%. Registered number of childhood cancer in the latest 2015 Zimbabwe National Cancer Registry was 250. However these figures are not a true reflection of the reality on the ground. Correct and up to date data is ‘work in progress’. These staggering figures are due to a myriad of reasons including late detection and diagnosis, an insufficient government healthcare delivery system with ill-equipped health centers, insufficient trained staff in oncology, a limited number of operational cancer treatment centers (currently only one based in Harare that dispenses chemotherapy), inconsistent supply of drugs and a harsh economic environment.
Children from disadvantaged backgrounds in general and in particular those living in the outer areas of Harare and rural areas of Zimbabwe are particularly at risk of becoming a mortality statistic.
Some of the major hurdles in the childhood patient cancer treatment regime the include: cost of the stay of the child and a parent in Harare – transport charges, hospital fees, medical treatment, medication combined with the cost of accommodation and living expenses in Harare. These contribute to why some families opt not to seek treatment – initially and for any repeat treatment require. Often the care-giver/parent will sleep on the floor in the wards in order to be able to pay for medical treatment. Lack of funds for long stays in hospital together with the demand for beds result in children often being discharged immediately after receiving treatment to make the long journey home with a compromised immune system.
Against this backdrop there was an overwhelming need identified by the various stakeholders in childhood cancer – Professor Chitsike from Parirenyatwa Ward A4 and KidzCan Zimbabwe – for a clean, nurturing home for children to recover. Roundtable and Meikles Foundation in response, partnered to form the Rainbow Children’s Home.
The hospital with its limited budgets provides one meal for a parentor caregiver. This scenario is repeated every time the child patient comes back for repeat treatment. It is at this stage after initial treatment that the burden of the cost of bus fares and accommodation often deter parents from continuing with the oncology treatment and many children die.
To assist and help ease the burdens of both the child patient and parent/care giver, Meikles Foundation and Round Table JV have partnered to form the Rainbow Children’s Home, an independent charitable trust. Our mandate initially is to raise funds in ‘cash or kind’ to renovate the defunct Roundtable Club House premises located in Belgravia into a home. Once the Rainbow Children’s Home is completed, a suitable organization/ management team will be partnered with to run the Home on a daily basis.
The Rainbow Children’s Home will be an 8 twin-bedded home for one child patient and their carer/parent. The Rainbow Children’s Home will have four ablutions facilities per gender, common area/dining room, kitchen for meals, self sufficient laundry, lock up storage, reception & administrative office and private facility for ‘Home Mother’, garden and play ground, all with wheel chair access.
The objective of the Home is to allow disadvantaged children from the rural areas and surrounds with no relatives or friends in Harare, a welcoming, clean surrounds with healthy sustaining food, to recover from their chemotherapy treatment before the journey home. The Home will also house those children who require accommodation should they require intensive treatment over a short period of time. It is NOT a hospice or a medical facility and we will not be administering any oncology services (medicines, scans, bloods ) – we are simply a home to rest and recuperate, a space that will allow their bodies to mend, their souls to strengthen and their spirits be uplifted with healthy food, comfortable surrounds and caring staff.
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We are totally indebted to our partners who continue to inspire the Team to achieve the goal of a home for disadvantaged children from rural and greater Harare recovering from chemotherapy treatment in their fight against cancer To all – past, current and future we say.
Tatenda, Siyabongai, Thank you
