Cancer care for 100 children in Mexico

The COVID 19 pandemic in Mexico has continued to wreak havoc. Despite having one of the world’s worst death tolls in the pandemic, Mexico’s government declined to lock down or expand test and trace operations. The result has been devastating for doctors and patients alike. Children with cancer have been dramatically affected, since the hospital spaces they used have been replaced to be COVID areas where adults with series conditions are cared for. Public hospitals are overstretched. Many are turning away patients because of a lack of beds. All are propped up by overworked and undertrained staff. Over 2000 healthcare workers have died from covid-19, more than anywhere else in the world. Mexico’s vast inequality, underfunded health system, large informal economy, and belts of cramped, multigenerational housing made it particularly vulnerable to the spread of the virus, say epidemiologists. 

This has all resulted in a delay in the cancer diagnosis of patients. Many families have also avoided going to hospitals or interacting with doctors for fear of contracting COVID.

Despite this dire situtation, and thanks to the support of our benefactors, we managed to finish our online training course for more than 200 nurses from different hospitals in Mexico. The goal was to raise awareness of the timely detection of cancer.

We also managed to make links with other civil organizations to cooperate. AMANC (Asociación Mexicana de Ayuda a Niños con Cáncer) has approached World Child Cancer to team up in the fight against childhood cancer. They are mainly dedicated to the creation and maintenance of shelters/ or hostels for patients and their families. We think this could be a promising opportunity for us. This is a very well known organization in Mexico and they have done some amazing things for the country.