Sharjah: A new International Childhood Cancer Fund that was launched in Sharjah on May 26, has received its first donation of $1 million from the Big Heart Foundation.

The fund was launched by Shaikha Jawaher Bint Mohammad Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, to support children with cancer worldwide.

Shaikha Jawaher is also the Founder and Royal Patron of the Friends of Cancer Patients Society (FoCP), the International Ambassador of the World Cancer Declaration for Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), and International Ambassador for Childhood Cancer for UICC.

Launched in cooperation with the UICC, the fund aims to save the lives of many of the 90,000 children who die of cancer each year.

The fund will collect donations and provide financial support for awareness campaigns, provide health care and treatment, and fund emergency relief projects to provide care for children with cancer. The UICC will appointment an advisory committee comprising six experts in childhood cancers, with experience in fighting cancer in developing countries, in addition to one health expert.

First donation

Shaikha Jawaher announced the donation of $1 million through The Big Heart Foundation, to be the fund’s first revenue. “The fund will help alleviate the suffering of many children, especially those in low and middle-income countries which result in the deaths of eight children per 10 diagnosed with cancer, contributing to saving the lives of 30,000 children a year,” said Shaikha Jawaher.

She pointed out that the major challenge in combating childhood cancer is the difficulty of determining risk factors that require medical intervention. This is different from cancers in adults, as it can be detected through awareness programmes and medical check-ups.

“What is the value of money if it is not used to prevent human suffering? Would not our lives become more beautiful when our children are safe and well and have access to better health care? International solidarity is essential to reduce child mortality and gives them the opportunity to enjoy life,” Shaikha Jawaher said.

Highlighting the need for international cooperation, Shaikha Jawaher called for substantial financial resources and government and community support in increasing support for health-care systems, particularly in the area of children’s tumours in order to contribute to reducing mortality rates to 40-50 per cent.

According to figures, childhood cancer is a significant factor in child mortality, causing an estimated 90,000 deaths per year. In high-income countries, cancer is the second leading cause of death among children aged five to 14. Although five year survival rates for children with cancer in high income countries does exceed 90 per cent, in low income countries five year survival rates can fall to as low as 10 per cent. About 176,000 children with cancer are diagnosed annually worldwide. If affordable and appropriate treatment is provided early most childhood cancer cases can be cured.

Make a change

The fall in child cancer deaths is normally associated with strong health-care systems, which can detect cancer early, diagnose it accurately and provide effective treatment.

Following this process, childhood cancer can be cured by providing immediate and necessary treatment.

“Equal access to treatment, care and support for children with cancer is an important human right and must be on the agenda of health and humanitarian organisations at the international level, simply because cancer does not discriminate between children in one country or another,” Shaikha Jawaher said.

Any child of any age, anywhere in the world, can be struck by this deadly disease. Every effort must be made to increase survival rates in countries where people do not have sufficient financial resources for early detection and treatment, she added.