Physical Health Philippines Project #17479

Cancer care for 100 children in the Philippines

by World Child Cancer USA

Project Report | Mar 1, 2016
Your support makes a difference - thank you!

By LeAnn Fickes | Executive Director

World Cancer Day awareness campaign

Dear friends,

Thank you so much for your continued support and contributions to World Child Cancer's project in the Philippines. Your support means everything to us and has allowed us to help more children on the island of Mindanao.

This month, project leader, Dr. Mae Dolendo and her team marked World Cancer Day on February 4th, along with World Child Cancer's projects around the world. Our theme this year was, "let's even the odds," to highlight the disparities between survival rates in low and middle income countries compared to high income countries like the US. We believe that every child deserves access to the best possible treatment and care. Your donations are making this a reality in the Philippines - thank you.

The last three months have been very busy at our project. Here are a few highlights from Dr. Dolendo:

Butuan City Medical Center satellite is now up and running with assignment of Site coordinator and proposed renovations for a dedicated unit for child cancer.

Ongoing construction of the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) Oncology Center with its west wing of proposed 50 beds dedicated for pediatric cancer patient.

St Jude Assessment Team of 12 doctors, program staff visiting SPMC and satellites with overall positive feedback for our team.

Continuing training of satellite staff at SPMC including administrative staff, which helps our awareness and advocacy efforts.

This month, Dr. Dolendo traveled to the project's satellite at the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC). Satellite centers are needed to treat children near where they live, so children can complete their treatment. Dr. Dolendo wrote this about her visit:

"Despite the challenge of traveling distances to try to help improve the care for children with cancer, among the best rewards is getting to know people who work passionately for the children; the countless conversations, exchange of information and knowledge; and the inspiration brought by the courage of the children, their parents and the hardworking colleagues who beat the odds just to give indigent children the chance to fight cancer. I am deeply humbled by all that I see and I only wish I could do more.

The journey is still too long, the distances too far but we will take it a day at a time, a step at a time to try to do the best we can for every kid. Thanks to our NMMC Team."

Dr. Dolendo and her team send you their gratitude for supporting their work and ensuring children throughout Mindanao can access the best possible childhood cancer treatment and care. We are grateful for your contributions through GlobalGiving and to Dr. Dolendo and her teams around Mindanao for working tirelessly every day to give hope to children with cancer, their families, and communities.

Please feel free to reach out to me personally with any questions at leann.fickes@worldchildcancer.us. Thank you again for making a difference in the lives of children with cancer.

Dr. Dolendo training medics at NMMC

Dr. Dolendo helping patients

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Dec 1, 2015
2015 Successes: November Update

By LeAnn | Fickes

Project Lead Dr. Mae Dolendo & a patient

Dear friends,

Happy holidays! Thank you for your continuing to support our project to help kids with cancer on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. Thanks to your contributions, the project continues to grow and we’d like to update you on our progress.

The number of children with cancer helped in Davao has increased this year. Dr. Mae Dolendo’s unit at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) has seen an increase in the annual number of new cases of childhood cancer from 164 patients in 2014 to 183 patients this year. The increase is due to Dr. Mae and her team’s efforts to raise awareness of childhood cancer and increase access to diagnosis and treatment.

Ultimately, this project aims to increase survival rates among children with cancer in Mindanao. Every child who dies of cancer is an irreplaceable contributor to the future of the Philippines. Healthy children and adolescents contribute to productive and sustainable communities.

Significant gains have been made in the following areas:

Physical facilities have been established at three satellites, in addition to the hub hospital, SPMC. This month, the Butuan satellite center is undergoing renovations to the pediatric oncology unit. Also, A new day therapy center has been opened in satellite center Cagayan de Oro and air conditioning units are being funded locally to improve the working conditions in the pediatric unit.
Dedicated, multidisciplinary childhood cancer teams have been identified, trained and supported at each site.
Referral systems are in place and are constantly revised.
A vehicle is being maintained for transport of patients and staff.
Family support accommodation, the House of Hope, is maintained at two sites.
Public awareness campaigns received public support and government attention.
A childhood cancer database is regularly updated at each site.
A palliative care unit has been established at SPMC.

While we've made great progress this year, there's still more to do. The increased number of children treated at the SPMC and the addition of the Butuan City satellite Center require more support. Can you please help us by forwarding our project page to your friends and family this holiday season? Together, we can make 2016 even more successful and reach more children with cancer.

Thank you once again for partnering with us and allowing us to continue to help children in the Philippines. Please contact me at leann.fickes@worldchildcancer.us if you have any questions or would like more information - we're always happy to hear from you. Happy holidays!

Best wishes,

World Child Cancer USA Team

Pediatric Oncology Nurses at SPMC

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Sep 1, 2015
September Update - thank you for your continued support!

By LeAnn Fickes | Executive Director

Visit with Butuan City Mayor, Ferdinand Amante

Dear friends,

We'd like to thank you for your support and give you an update on our progress. It has been a busy summer for Dr. Mae Dolendo and her team in Mindanao. Thanks to you, the satellite in Butuan is now up and running; children with cancer are being seen and Dr. Dolendo continues to mentor the dedicated team of doctors, nurses, and social workers.

Here's an update from Dr. Dolendo on progress in the last 3 months:

We formally established the Butuan satellite facility at Butuan City Medical Center. We have the support of the local government through Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand Amante (pictured in green). Our satellite coordinator in Butuan is Dr. Caridad Plete.
Dr. Dolendo met with the Butuan City Medical Center hospital engineers and discussed the proposed pediatric oncology unit. It's important to have designated beds for children with cancer and an area where they can play.
Bryan Abayhon, RN, our Cagayan de Oro assistant coordinator, taught Dr. Caridad Plete how to join our online teleconferences. Medical staff from satellites around Mindanao speak and present cases bi-weekly to share best practices.
The team in the satellite center in Cagayan De Oro have found funds to develop a ‘home from home’ for patients on the grounds of a local orphanage. Many children abandon treatment early because their families have no place to stay and this will help ensure children stay for their full treatment course.
Dr. Dolendo went to General Santos City for a satellite visit. She was able to assess children undergoing treatment there, and commented that she was very happy to see so many patients following up with their treatment.

For more from Dr. Dolendo, please follow her posts on Kids of Hope, the local nonprofit in Davao which supports the pediatric cancer ward at the Southern Philippines Medical Center, page here.

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The team at World Child Cancer are raising awareness and funds for kids with cancer around the world. We'd like to thank you for your past support and we hope you'll join us and Go Gold this September. You can help by sharing our posts on Facebook and Twitter. Also, read our blog post on other ways you can get involved here. Thank you!

THANK YOU once again for partnering with us and allowing us to continue to help children in the Philippines. Please contact me at leann.fickes@worldchildcancer.us if you have any questions or would like more information - we're always happy to hear from you.

Best wishes,

World Child Cancer USA Team

Discussing plans for the new pedoncology unit

Learning how to join online teleconferences

Join us to Go Gold for Childhood Cancer Awareness

Links:

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