The Livestrong Foundation recently endorsed this project as 'promising' in cancer innovation by short-listing it as a semi-finalist from a field of 750 entries across the globe. A special pot of money will be open to adults and children living with cancer in Kenya who can't afford life-saving treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation. Cancer is mostly a death sentence in Kenya but this project gives hope and a real chance of recovery to people fighting cancer, every year, forever.
Cancer statistics in Kenya are scary - just 1 in 10 children survive compared to 7/10 in developed countries. With only 8 oncologists and 3 cancer wards amongst a population of 42 million - combined with private health care costs running at more than double the average salary - the future is bleak for people living with cancer. By not getting the right treatment at the right time, all types and stages of cancer will remain a death sentence for most in Kenya unless things are done differently.
With this insight Faraja aims to raise 100 million shillings (US $1.15 million) seed money, which will be placed in the Medical Emergency Cancer Fund. At a 5% distribution rate the MECF will be able to give KSH 5 million (US 57K) worth of life-saving grants every year, forever. A pilot project has been run which has seen 25 adults and children being given financial assistance. We are proud that 21 are still alive today and have been sharing their survivorship stories giving hope to others.
Initially this sustainable project has the potential to save the lives of upto 100 people every year through providing MECF grants to those who can't afford it. We plan to share survivorship stories with the general public which in turn will raise awareness and break down stigma which is rife across the country. The larger the MECF grows, the more people that can be helped. Join us on this journey. Cancer is a global issue and has no boundaries.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
