The 2025 International Childhood Cancer Day observed on February 15, was an occasion for Humanitarian association Mori’sChild and its partners to commune with patients at the Chantal Biya Foundation.
“A Chemotherapy for my Birthday” is the theme under which the Cameroonian-based humanitarian association Mori’sChild observed the 2025 edition of International Childhood Cancer Day on Saturday,15th of February, at the Chantal Biya Foundation in Yaounde.
As of tradition, the humanitarian association organized an awareness and educative session coupled with birthday celebrations that brought on board several sisters’ associations with whom Mori’sChild collaborates, as well as representatives of key partners such as the Ministry of Public Health, the Chantal Biya Foundation, World Child Cancer, Canal Plus, “Source du Pays” etc.
Journeying with patients
To put a smile on the faces of the patients affected by cancer at the hemato-oncology unit of the Chantal Biya Foundation, Mori’sChild association transformed the hospital into an attractive celebration site.
Parents, patients, members of the association, and various partners were invited to take an active part in the commemoration of International Childhood Cancer Day (ICCD).
Amongst the parents convened to this session, was Marie-Blanche Ndjip, mother of four children and whose third born aged 12 has been diagnosed with cancer since mid-January 2025.
Marie-Blanche Ndjip felt discouraged when she got the news but thanks to past experiences and successes recorded at the Chantal Biya Foundation she believes in a positive outcome.
Many of the patients encountered at the hemato-oncology were filled with faith and nourishing hopes that they would be cured.
Speaking with Ruth-Grace Ngo Nyobe, the Founder and chairperson of Mori’sChild association, she seized the one-day celebration as an occasion to express love to affected children whom she described as her “warriors”, and encouraged parents to follow treatment till the end.
She said: “Today, I communicate with the children in a particular way because we have this concept that we call chemotherapy for my birthday. It is a concept that I created to improve the quality of life of children living with cancer and their families in hospitals. We thought that any sick child with cancer deserves an education and a moment of leisure…”
Since its creation, the humanitarian association has carried out a good number of activities and has reached out to two hundred children affected by cancer.
She added: “The figures go to about 226 children who have benefited collectively from our help since the creation of the association in 2021. We will specify that among these children, we have 40 families who have benefited from individual help, that is to say from the beginning of the treatment to the end. Unfortunately, following the abandonment of treatment due to the discouragement of parents, we have observed deaths. We also celebrate fathers and mothers because it’s not easy to follow these children. After all, in our context, they are marginalized. We have prejudices, people who think it’s witchcraft. So, we must tell the parents, we are here and it is a collective deal.”
Changing the narratives
9 years-old female patient, Mary Fortune whom we met at the Chantal Biya Foundation is recovering from lymphoblastic lymphoma- a cancer of immature lymphocytes, cells of the immune system called lymphoblasts.
Just like other patients affected by cancer at an early age, Mary Fortune has been keenly followed at the hemato-oncology unit of the Chantal Biya Foundation. She is recovering from several years of illness after which the hopes of her family were already shattered.
The story of Mary Fortune is not different from that of Fotso Maximilien.
The 17-year-old boy has been suffering for the past ten years and today recovers from spatial thrombosis after several diagnoses.
He said: “Since I was 7 years old, I had a pain in my left leg. Every year, we went to different hospitals. Each doctor gave us a diagnosis. In 2023, I had pain in my leg and we went to the hospital. We discovered that I was suffering from a spatial thrombosis associated with myosin. I did sessions and kinesiotherapy and took antibiotics. Until then, my leg was still swollen and it hurt. In January 2024, we discovered that I was suffering from a spatial thrombosis…but that we have to compare it to a cytoplasm…”
Besides the sensitization session, children were encouraged to expose their skills in painting in a 30-minute workshop.
The next and last phase of the day was dedicated to the birthday celebration of children born in February.
The day ended up in joy and happiness with children sharing some snacks with all the guests.
Cancer has emerged as a major cause of death among children worldwide, with thousands of young lives succumbing to this fatal disease every year.
Each year, Cameroon expects approximately 1.500 children and adolescents between the age of 0-14 years to be diagnosed with cancer.
Despite the advancement in pediatric oncology, the mortality rate for childhood cancer remains high, especially in developing countries that lack adequate healthcare yet early diagnosis greatly helps in saving lives.
Elise Kenimbeni
