Some 400,000 children worldwide are diagnosed with cancer. In 2018, the World Health Organisation, WHO has launched the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer aimed to increase the survival rate among children with cancer to at least 60 per cent by 2030 as well as reduce suffering and improve their quality of life. The Minister of Health said the matter at the Children’s Cancer Foundation, YASKA Childhood Cancer and Thalassaemia Awareness Day. Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Doctor Awang Haji Mohammad Isham bin Haji Jaafar said that more than 8 in 10 children recover from cancer if they receive early treatment and the best care. Many children who recover from cancer able live long, happy, healthy and productive lives.
According to the Minister of Health, in Brunei Darussalam, a total of 335 children aged between 0 and 19 were diagnosed with cancer between 2002 and 2021. However, the death rate due to cancer during the same period has decreased from 31.25 per cent to 27 per cent. Meanwhile, Thalassemia is a genetic disease of red blood cells that causes the body to lack hemoglobin blood cells that carry oxygen throughout the body. As a genetic disease, thalassemia is passed down to children from both parents who carry the thalassemia. Treatment for children with cancer and thalassemia has progressed significantly and has led to an increase in the survival rate.
Donations from Borneo Insider Guide – (BIG) Magazine to YASKA were also presented in which BIG Magazine is a fund in raising donations to help “Childhood Cancer” during the World Cancer Day which was held last February. The Children Awareness Month is celebrated every September aims to further enhance the public’s support, collect donations and provide awareness on cancer among children. Also held on 25th September, was various activities such as blood donation, quizzes and exhibition on cancer.
Source: Radio Television Brunei