As part of activities to mark International Childhood Cancer Day, an awareness and educative talk was organized on February 14, 2025, at the Chantal Biya Foundation in Yaounde.
Ahead of International Childhood Cancer Day observed every February 15 of the year, the Chantal Biya Foundation in partnership with the Sovereign Order of Malta and humanitarian association-Mori’sChild, organized a series of activities to mark this day in Cameroon.
The Chantal Biya Foundation, the Yaounde-based Mother and Child Health Center put in place by the First Lady, Mrs. Chantal Biya played host to a sensitization and educative talk held on Friday, 14th of February, 2025.
The session that brought together several children affected by cancer, parents, nurses, members of the association Mori’sChild, and the staff of the Chantal Biya Foundation was attended by Jean-Stephane Biatcha, Executive Secretary of Chantal Biya’s organization- “Synergies Africaines” His Excellency, Jean-Christophe Heidsieck, Ambassador of the sovereign order of Malta in Cameroon.
During the presentation made by Pr. Pondy Angele, Head of the Hemato-oncology unit at the Chantal Biya Foundation, it was disclosed that Cameroon records each year about 1500 new cases of pediatric cancers. Worldwide 400.000 children are diagnosed each year with cancers.
Pr. Pondy Angele said despite new cases of pediatric cancer diagnosed, they are healed at 80%.
“When we look at the literature and when we see the population in Cameroon, especially children, we are expecting 1500 new cases every year. For instance, we have about 300 cases in our unit. And every year, we have about 125 new cases. Concerning the type of cancer, the literature changed very much. We were saying that some cancers are not seen in Africans, which is not true. We have all kinds of cancers, and the one we are just not seeing is the fact that we don’t know how to diagnose it. Take for instance, there are the cases of two children, one with abdominal sarcomas who has finished her treatment and she’s now fine, and the other who had lymphoblastic lymphomas and finished the treatment, and she’s also healed. We have other children on treatment and the signs are positive…And up to 80 percent of these cancers can be healed only with chemotherapy…”
According to Pr. Nkegoum Blaise, Permanent Secretary for Cancer Control in Cameroon, the Ministry of Public Health has developed new programmes to tackle pediatric cancer in Cameroon.
He went further to outline the fact that the government through the Ministry of Public Health is putting in place in the years ahead, an institute to fight against cancer, and there will be focus on pediatric oncology as well as the financial support granted to sanitary centers will be diverted to pediatric cancer.
On his part, Ambassador Jean-Christophe Heidsieck underscored the current strides recorded in the fight against pediatric cancer in Cameroon as the Sovereign Order of Malta engaged in a tripartite accord with the government and the Chantal Biya Foundation.
Speaking to media practitioners, the Ambassador of the Sovereign Order of Malta said in the Central African Sub-region, Cameroon is a good example in terms of childhood cancer care with advanced sciences and research.
He said: “That’s exactly 25 years now since this pediatric oncology project started here in Cameroon, notably in Yaoundé. It started with the conjunction and the meeting of two professors. Professor Lemaire, a French specialist, and Professor Doumbe, a great specialist from Cameroon. Since then, the center has received about 150 cancerous children. Before, this disease was almost taboo, hidden, and forgotten. Now it has become a disease like any other and parents are no longer afraid to bring their children, knowing that they will be well treated and most of the time healed. The methods have also evolved, and chemotherapy is refined in pediatric oncology. The success of Cameroon compared to other neighboring countries is quite remarkable because, in addition, we can rely on “Centre Pasteur” because its care requires very refined and appropriate analyses. So this project is based on a kind of tripartite within the Chantal Biya Foundation which provides places, personnel, and a certain number of services; the Centre Pasteur which gives us certain prices for the exams; the Central Hospital and the Order of Malta which finances the purchase of drugs and finances treatment.”
Ambassador Jean-Christophe Heidsieck also seized the occasion with media men to announce the upcoming fundraising gala night for cancerous children and pledged more support as the project on rails positively impacts the lives of cancer patients.
“A few years ago, we organized charity gala nights to collect funds from Cameroon. The first two galas have had satisfactory results in total growth and we hope that the next gala which will take place in June 2025 will permit us to triple the amount. It should be noted that to save the life of a cancerous child, it varies between 2 and 3 million Francs CFA. Each time we collect 2 or 3 million more, it is a life of saving…” He added.
Besides promoting the importance of early diagnosis or detection and treatment, this sensitization talk highlighted the supportive aspect for these young cancer survivors and their families as set up by Mori’sChild Association.
Ruth-Grace Ngo Nyobe, Founder and leading president of the humanitarian association Mori’sChild outlined the main role played by her association to support patients affected by cancer, and parents who have lost hope, and to boost the morale of those who are afraid to bring their kids to the hospital.
To give more hope to families and patients themselves, the humanitarian association also organizes birthday celebrations.
“Through our activities, we are coming to strengthen and improve the quality of life of children during their stay at the hospital. Why? We have always thought that even if a child is sick, he has the right to education, to leisure, and it is imperative to reconnect him. You heard the testimony of one of the patients, Maximilien who talked about the end of his illness. He was worried about how to do with his education while following his treatment in the hospital. At Mori’sChild, we came in with the “Happy class project”, which helps patients affected by cancer to continue their studies while in the hospital. Through this project, we are trying to reconnect children with their school environment and they should not be left aside because they are sick…”
Just like specialists, she reiterated the need to have an early diagnosis for a complete treatment.
“The word cancer refers to death in our context, in addition to cultural considerations, prejudices that people have…. You have heard the testimonies. We have seen the children who were here when they were very young, who are now growing up, and who have been cured. We have seen those who are still in treatment, who continue until the end to say that child cancer is curable. When the diagnosis is early, the effective treatment in the reference centers and I insist on this point, the application, the respect of instructions given by doctors…” She said.
Ruth-Grace Ngo Nyobe took advantage of this sensitization cometogether to express once more her gratitude to the government and other key partners that are deeply engaged in tackling childhood cancer.
The dynamic and devoted leader of Mori’sChild calls on goodwill persons to support at all levels children affected by cancer diseases.
She said no voluntary aid is undermined as the sum of 100FCFA for instance can help to purchase a syringe and 200FCFA can buy gloves.
Cancer has emerged as a major cause of death among children worldwide, with thousands of young lives succumbing to this fatal disease every year.
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.
The most common cancer types in this age group are leukaemias, lymphomas, and central nervous system tumours.
Elise Kenimbeni
