CanKids Signs MoU With State Govt. of West Bengal For Change For Childhood Cancer
On August 28, 2020, CanKids is proud to have signed an MoU with the Department of Health and Family Welfare Government West Bengal, as their knowledge and technical partner for Childhood Cancer in West Bengal. This is the 3rd State level MoU that CanKids has signed after Punjab in September 2017 and Maharashtra in February 2019. Cankids will work with Department of Health and Family Welfare, Govt of West Bengal to strengthen childhood cancer treatment, care and support.
“The MoU is about Partnership. We are fighting a War against Cancer. Childhood Cancer, with high survival rates and positive outcomes is the low hanging fruit in this War. It is only when the government, civil society and NGOs like CanKids, doctors and health professionals of Public and private sectors, parents and survivors groups, and CSR partners come together and work together that we will be able to provide the best treatment care and support for Children with cancer and their families in West Bengal.” |
CanKids will work with the state government and all relevant stakeholders to:
- Develop an Access2Care model, including a 4-tier Childhood Cancer Network with referral pathways from primary to tertiary levels and for Shared Care at primary, district, and tertiary cancer care centres for diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and palliative care.
- Provide access to care information and awareness to health professionals, government officials, civil society, and patients' families.
- Build capacities of health care professionals, allied social support teams and health workers as well as patient-parent education for childhood cancer.
- Ensure the provision of facilities and services for patients' families including access to funding and financing through government and other welfare schemes, financing schemes, insurance as well as donor support.
- Drive improved standards of access to treatment, care, and support through improved quality, research, and epidemiology.
- Ensure family engagement and patient participation of patients, survivors, and parents to ensure patient-centric care.
The incidence of childhood cancer in West Bengal is 5265 each year as per the Geneva-based International Association of Cancer Registries (IACR). This makes it the 4th highest state after Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Maharashtra, accounting for 6.85% of the total incidence in India. Our extensive baseline studies indicate that 1,298 children with cancer are being treated at cancer centers in West Bengal, the largest number being treated at Kolkata at Nil Ratan Sarkar Hospital, Kolkata Medical College Hospital, and Tata Medical Center. We estimate that 73% children of West Bengal with cancer are not getting diagnosed or treated.
Board member and CanKids Hony. Regional Director East Mr. Mohit Aggarwal informed “We have had a presence in West Bengal since 2014. Since April 2019, our Team has mapped the state extensively, identifying 52 centers that may be treating kids with cancer. Our feasibility studies have led to decision to strengthen delivery of childhood cancer at 29 of those centers over next 5 years. With this MoU in place we can work closely with the Government. We aim to work with other partners and state players including Govt, Trust and private Hospitals treating children with cancer to ensure better Access and Quality of Care with higher survival rates and positive outcomes.
We are grateful for the support of our CSR and other donor partners over the years to make Change for Childhood Cancer in West Bengal, key among whom have
been the Jiv Daya Foundation, Century Ply Ltd., HDFC Life, Airports Authority of India, the HT Parekh Foundation, J. Thomas, Warren Tea, Surekha Builders, and CONCOR.
Board member and CanKids Hony. Regional Director East Mr. Mohit Aggarwal informed “We have had a presence in West Bengal since 2014. Since April 2019, our Team has mapped the state extensively, identifying 52 centers that may be treating kids with cancer. Our feasibility studies have led to decision to strengthen delivery of childhood cancer at 29 of those centers over next 5 years. With this MoU in place we can work closely with the Government. We aim to work with other partners and state players including Govt, Trust and private Hospitals treating children with cancer to ensure better Access and Quality of Care with higher survival rates and positive outcomes.
We are grateful for the support of our CSR and other donor partners over the years to make Change for Childhood Cancer in West Bengal, key among whom have
been the Jiv Daya Foundation, Century Ply Ltd., HDFC Life, Airports Authority of India, the HT Parekh Foundation, J. Thomas, Warren Tea, Surekha Builders, and CONCOR.
This is the 3rd state-level MoU CanKids has signed after Punjab in September 2017 and Maharashtra in February 2019.