By Hamu Madzedze
Educating teachers on childhood Cancers is vital and cannot be underestimated as they spend most of the time with children and will be able to identify the signs and symptoms of cancer in children to ensure early detection and cancer treatment among them.
Speaking during the International Childhood Cancer Day ,KidzCan a Zimbabwean organisation dedicated to supporting children with Cancer said teachers must get to know about the disease as part of promoting early detection in order to reduce the Cancer mortality rate in children.
"Teachers spend more time with children and the more we can inform and teach them to look out for anything that may be wrong with the children ,they can be able to refer those who are in need of medical help, said Mr Daniel Mckenzie the organisation's executive director.
Mr Mckenzie added that the commemorations have become a major childhood awareness campaign ,also known as School Awareness Program ensuring that pupils get to learn about the various cancers affecting them thereby fostering early detection and treatment of the disease.
He said the Orange month which is held in Zimbabwe is not only committed to schools but as an organisation they are committed to ensuring the corporate world ,churches gatherings are equipped with information on the various cancers which are affecting children.
Meanwhile Mr Tsimba whose son is a blood cancer patient from Mutare explained the crucial role KidZcan has played in the treatment journey of his son.
He added that it is a harrowing experience when childhood Cancer strikes, every member of the family feels the agony and not having any knowledge of childhood Cancers and no history of it in his family is a challenge,
"It was a huge relief when KidzCan stepped in with free treatment support on n drugs,scans,accomodation and busfares",said Mr Tsimba.
In 2023 KIdzCan reached 30 000 children in 44 schools during the Orange month and according to the International Childhood Cancer every year more than 400, 000 children and adolescents below a 20 years of age are diagonised with cancer .
The target goal of the World Health Organisation (WHO)Global Childhood Cancer Initiative to eliminate all the pain and suffering of children fighting cancer and achieve at least 60% survival for all children with cancer around the world by 2030
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