Cancer in Kenya: Giving a real chance of recovery

Dear Crafts for Cure Supporter, 

We are so excited to report on an impactful project that we hope, will be an annual event in our Crafts for Cure calendar. 

Through the American Cancer Society's SOURCE program (Strengthening Organization for United Response to Cancer Epidemic), Faraja received a grant for an amazing project: The Art Master Class. 

The Art Master Class aims to engage with inpatient children at Kenyatta National Hospital's pediatric oncology ward 1E in a one month fine arts training course. The ward accommodates about 28 children from ages 6-13. The class aims to benefit the children by imparting professional sketching, drawing and painting skills as well as introducing them to the world of fine arts: a plausible profession.

We started off with a trial class on the 30th of May 2018 to familiarize the children with basic art technology such as primary and secondary colours, sketching and types of paints. The Art Master Class team decided it would be best to incorporate the theme of Hope during the classes so as to ensure the children also received art therapy as they underwent treatment for various forms of cancer. Hope is important for any cancer patient to have, regardless of their age. 

The sessions were very well received and surpassed our expectations. The children expressed a willingness to learn more about art and painting. Since it was their first time being taught art by professionals, it took time for them to warm up to the idea of imaginative drawing and painting instead of copying their friends work. By the second class, the children began to draw and paint their own pieces.

At the end of the one month master class, five talented children were picked for the final project: a painting of their favourite dream. These paintings were framed and are to be auctioned to willing supporters. The starting bid for each art piece is 20,000 Kenyan Shillings (about USD 200)  

It is important to note that the Art Master Class was different from our regular art therapy classes. The Master Class worked on individual skills, the classes were more technical and artistic terminology was used and superior materials were used such as, acrylic paints, poster colours and art paper. 

The outcome were these four amazing art works that have consequently been framed and are ready for auction. 

Being the first time, we have learnt a lot and are keen to do it again next year. It proved to be a unique way of allowing the children to express themselves and it also inspired some of the children to pursue art as a profession. However no project is without its challenges.  Some of the children could not work on their own due to the side effects of chemotherapy treatment, others were discharged from hospital and sadly, a few succumbed to their illness. 

These art pieces are a testament to the ingenuity and creative prowess of children who, regardless of the odds, will always joyfully give a piece of themselves in glorious colouring. Each brush stroke represents their determination to fight a disease that may have ravaged their bodies but not their spirit. 

We look forward to having another art master class next year.

Links:

• Faraja's official website

Grace is a single mother of two children. She was leading a normal life, albeit in economic strain as she is a peasant farmer and erks a living through casual work. Her youngest child is only 11 years old. 

It therefore came as a shock to her and her family when after excessive and continuous menstrual bleeding, she was diagnosed with uterine cancer, stage one. She had, before this incident never experienced any ill health.  Unfortunate for her, her diagnosis came at a time when Kenyan doctors were on a Nationwide strike hence hampering medical services. She could not afford private hospital fees and was forced to fundraise for a hysterectomy( surgical removal of her uterus).

Her friends and family came to her aid and she was able to have the surgery done. Regardless of having a National Health Insurance Fund cover ( NHIF) she still needed financial assistance as the state owned health insurance only caters for 25% of chemotherapy and radiotherapy costs.

“I knew that there was no way I could have treatment done because I had no money.” Grace says, further adding that her eldest child, 22 was jobless and has no tertiary training to secure employment.

Spurred by the thoughts of her children, she got the courage to talk to the doctors a private hospital. 

One of the doctors advised her to apply for financial assistant with Faraja and she received a positive response within two weeks. 

“Without Faraja, I would never have afforded this treatment that saved my life and gave me a second chance to take care of my children.” Grace says.

During the course of this interview, Grace was on a 6 week break from chemotherapy and was set to resume radiotherapy treatment.

“I feel healthy, awesome, I can even travel by myself unaided.”

What advice would she give anyone newly diagnosed with cancer?

“I would tell anyone feeling ill to seek medical help promptly, to take heart if it turns out to be cancer, because it is treatable. ”

About the Faraja Medical Support Fund

Faraja Cancer Support Trust launched the Faraja Medical Support Fund (FMSF)  on 12th November 2016 with the aim of developing an effective system which will enable adults and children with cancer to obtain the right treatment at the right time. This brings hope and real chance of recovery. The mission is to galvanise the support of a small but powerful group with the vision and capacity to come together and make a meaningful and long lasting impact by making sizable donations into the fund.

The treatment that Faraja funds is provided at  private and government institutions in Nairobi.  Faraja aims to raise Kshs 100,000,000 (US$1,000,000). A corpus of funds that, when invested, will ensure up to 50 patients receive treatment every year. The fund will cover medical costs such as surgery, brachetherapy , chemotherapy, radiation and hormonal therapy. The beneficiaries will be required to cover the initial consultation and the first 10% of the treatment plan. To qualify for a grant, individuals will submit an application form which will be vetted monthly by members of an expert panel. The selection criteria will be based on the financial status of the applicant, type of cancer, prognosis and age.

Links:

• About the Faraja Medical Support Fund

Greetings from Faraja Cancer Support Trust.

You are receiving this as a contributor to the Faraja Medical Support Fund or because we feel that you maybe interested in knowing more about the Fund.

For the eight years that Faraja has been in existence, we have witnessed many patients leave our facility feeling better than when they walked in. The need and role for information, complementary therapies and support groups,  cannot be understated. A special thanks to our staff, volunteers and therapists for ensuring that patients and their carers receive hope, help and life through our free services.

However, the need for timely and good medical intervention is still paramount, especially now that the number of patients diagnosed with cancer in Kenya has risen from 20,000 to 40,000 annually.

We are delighted to share with you that out of our initial target of Shs100m for the Fund we have raised Shs83m to date. The Trustees of Faraja would like to thank everyone who has made this possible.

We are also delighted to celebrate new partnerships with cancer organisations, hospitals and pharmaceutical companies who have come on board to assist us by offering treatment at a reduced cost or donating medication for treatment.

It is now, more than ever, that we need to do our bit to help patients like Jane, who can now confidently complete her treatment thanks to the support she received from the Fund. Read more about her here

With your support we would like to accelerate the pace at which we can save lives and reduce suffering by helping patients get access to healthcare. All gifts into the fund will be invested and the interest earned will ensure patients receive the right treatment at the right time.

I welcome the opportunity to talk with any individual or company who would like to become involved. We believe strongly that no one should have to face cancer alone. 

Thank you all for your support.
 
Shaira Adamali
Founding Trustee
Faraja Cancer Support Trust

GIVING HOPE AND A REAL CHANCE OF RECOVERY

Faraja Cancer Support Trust was set up in 2010 by Shaira Adamali, a cancer patient who got some of her treatment in Nairobi and some in the UK. Whilst undergoing treatment abroad she noticed a gap in the psycho social support in Kenya compared to what she received in England. This birthed the inception of Faraja, a charitable trust, based in Nairobi and soon to open in Eldoret, offering free complementary therapies to cancer patients and their care givers.

 Faraja’s main mandate initially was to provide information and therapies to aid patients through their chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments. However, with an increased cancer burden in Kenya, there is a higher demand for financial assistance for patients. This is largely due to the 3 reasons below:

1. There are only 14 registered oncologists in Kenya for a population of 45million (compared to 766 in the UK. This leads to an annual mortality rate of 27,000 a year due to cancer compared to 7 in 10 in the developed world.

2. Cancer treatment is hugely expensive – even for those who can afford it the resources are sparse.       Radiotherapy treatment in Kenya is offered publicly and subsidized at Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya’s largest referral hospital. However, there are only 3 functioning radiotherapy machines and one frequently breaks down. This leads to a waiting list of over a year long. The only alternatives most patients have are private clinics which charge an average of $60-100 per session, a sum many cannot afford.

 3. During a conference for East Africa Insurance that was held in February of 2017, it was revealed that only 12% of Kenyans have medical insurance. This translates to about 480,000 Kenyans who have insurance covers out of the country’s over 40 million people population.

For these reasons, Faraja Cancer Support Trust launched the Faraja Medical Support Fund (FMSF)  on 12th November 2016 with the aim of developing an effective system which will enable adults and children with cancer to obtain the right treatment at the right time. This gives hope and a real chance of recovery as well as reducing the  suffering of many.

The treatment that Faraja funds is provided at  private and government institutions in Nairobi.  Faraja aims to raise Kshs 100,000,000 (US$1,000,000). A corpus of funds that, when invested, will ensure up to 50 patients receive treatment every year. The fund will cover medical costs such as surgery, brachetherapy , chemotherapy, radiation and hormonal therapy. The beneficiaries will be required to cover the initial consultation and the first 10% of the treatment plan. To qualify for a grant, individuals will submit an application form which will be vetted monthly by members of an expert panel. The selection criteria will be based on the financial status of the applicant, type of cancer, prognosis and age

A pilot project for the fund was carried out in 2014 from a donation given by Nakumatt Holdings during their October cancer awareness campaign, “Let’s Fight This Battle Together”.

The Pilot funded 42 grants to children and adults at the cost of Kshs 5,548,634 with an average grant of Kshs 137,270.Vincent is a recent beneficiary of the medical fund. The 41year old single father of three was diagnosed in January 2017 with a localized rectal tumour and urgently needed financial assistance to cover his chemotherapy, radiotherapy and colostomy (surgical procedure that brings one end of the large intestine out through the abdominal wall). Through Faraja’s medical fund, Vincent is now on his way to recovery after receiving a grant for surgery and to cover the cost of therapy after the NHIF* rebate.

“If it wasn’t for Faraja’s support I do not think I would be alive right now. I am poor and I’m not employed. The help we receive saves lives and I am a living testament.”-says a cheerful Vincent.

Cancer can have a devastating financial impact on survivors and their families. Even if you have good health insurance coverage, your direct medical costs and related nonmedical expenses can quickly add up. Most direct medical costs resulting from cancer treatment (such as physicians' fees, hospital expenses, and pharmacy bills) are covered at least in part by basic health insurance plans.

The fund has now raised Kshs 80million. The funds raised were sourced from various supporters, sponsors and events. Some notable early adopters include Anthony Havelock, who organised the Natalie Blue Ball in London on the 10th of September 2016 in loving memory of his wife who passed on from metastatic breast cancer. The ball raised £110,000. A sub-fund within the FMSF called the Natalie Fund was created to financially assist young mothers with breast cancer. Gemma McRae and Johnny Limb also organised a fun golf day and fabulous Rio Carnival Ball at night. These two amazing events raised an additional Kshs 3.86 million shillings for the Natalie Fund. Faraja’s Founding Trustee, Shaira also did a  350km bike ride in October 2015 Tanzania and raised Kshs 14million for the Fund.

“I feel so passionate about this ground breaking initiative.” Quips Shaira

For more information on how to support our fund please visit us at HCG-CCK, Shivachi Road Parklands (next to MP Shah Hospital)

Weekdays: 8am-5pm

Website: www.farajacancersupport.org

Links:

• About the medical fund

                                                       What we have been up to: 2017 in review

It is already July and so much has been happening at Faraja. I thought I would give you a brief insight into the impact we have on the cancer scene in Kenya and how we plan to expand our services to other towns outside of Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi. We currently have 24 qualified and professional therapists who offer their services for free every week at our wellness centre in Nairobi, Kenya. This has increased our psycho/social support and our complementary therapies portfolio. A full breakdown of our therapies can be found on our website. Please log onto www.farajacancersupport.org. Our support groups have also grown from 3(breast, cervical and prostate) to 6 with the addition of Head and Neck, Multiple Myeloma/Lymphoma/Leukaemia and every Friday, at Kenya’s main referral hospital, we have the parent’s support group for the parents of in-patient cancer children. With increase support, we are able to makea positive difference in the journey of over 5,000 cancer patients.

Another milestone for us was the launch of the Faraja Cancer Support Fund on the 12^th of November 2016. The vision is for children and adults who have been diagnosed with cancer in Kenya, to be able to access the right affordable treatment at the right time. This brings hope and real chance of recovery. The mission is to galvanise the support of a small but powerful group with the vision and capacity to come together and make a meaningful and long lasting impact by making donations into the fund. We are happy to announce that so far 70 million shillings has been raised and so far over 80 patients have received medical treatment from Faraja. The more the fund increases, the more lives we will be able to save.

A high priority over the next 6months is to reach out to more communities, located outside of Kenya’s capital, Nairobi. Eldorettown, has been chosen as our first new regional base which in time could see Faraja doubling the amount of people we help. The new outreach centre will be located at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH). MTRH is strategically placed in the heart of UasinGishu County in Eldoret town. It is also the second National Referral Hospital in Kenya after Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH). In 2015, MTRH commissioned the establishment of a chronic diseases center to deal with cancer and tuberculosis treatment. The center aims to ease the influx of cancer patients seeking medical assistance at KNH. This timely investment is in line with our vision of walking with cancer patients during their treatment journey by giving free complementary therapies, information and support.

I personally would like thank the whole Faraja family of supporters, staff, patients and partners who have helped Faraja to grow into the leader we have become today.  Our supporters, like you, have ensured that we have received guidance when needed, and nurtured us with advice and funds. By being there you have ensured thousands of people do not have to face cancer alone. As we celebrate 7 years of bringing hope, help and life to cancer patients, we are in awe from all the feedback we receive about our services which make a difference in the lives of those that need it the most

 Finally, we are excited to share with you information about a fundraising dinner in London on the 14th of October 2017. The dinner is being organised by two London based oncologists, Andreas Makris and Neel Bhuva and all proceeds will go towards the Faraja Cancer Support Fund. We would be delighted if our supporters in the UK are able to join us and to celebrate the lives we have saved together. The event will be held at the Wembley Hilton, Lakeside Way, London from 630pm to midnight.Tickets cost £70 and include a drinks reception, dinner, bar and a DJ to finish the night dancing away in style. During the evening you will have the opportunity to take part in a raffle, silent auction and a live auction. Bidding for the silent auction items will open 2 weeks before the event and continue throughout the evening. All the money raised on the night will go to the charity and there are some fantastic prizes on offer.

You can buy tickets via the website below. If you wish to secure a table please purchase 10 tickets.

www.farajalondon2017-auction.com

Thank you for your continuous support.

Best Regards

Shaira Adamali- Founding Trustee