Working together during Covid-19
RIVONIA – The cancer network continues to encourage organisations and communities alike to work together as very few organisations were able to escape the negative impacts of the lockdown.
The Childhood Cancer Network South Africa hopes for more collaborative work this year for the benefit of children living with cancer, and their families.
According to a statement, Childhood Cancer Foundation of South Africa (CHOC) who chairs the network, with the help of collaborative work last year the network was able to tackle various challenges such as a lack of information, limited access to medication and no communication from government, to name a few. One of the greatest difficulties that the network found was to effectively manage the needs of cancer patients, and their increased susceptibility to Covid-19 infection because of their immunosuppressed status, due to both the disease and their treatment, was a great concern.
The focus was to ensure that all patients on treatment received their treatment and were admitted to hospital if necessary.
According to Professor Janet Poole, principal paediatrician of paediatric haematology and oncology at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, much of this was set back by the constant changes in policies and procedures within the hospital environment.
“The staff was under a lot of stress, the initial support for social workers, volunteers, and activities normally done, was lost. Parents and caregivers were restricted to one person attending clinic and rooming in, and this caused much distress to the families and staff alike. The ‘child-friendly’ environment was lost,” said Poole.
Fortunately the CHOC psychosocial team was able to actively get involved in the wards. They continued to deliver nurturing care and support to the children, teens and their families.
The Rainbows and Smiles Foundation, together with other members of the Childhood Cancer Network, were able to deliver food parcels and donations to the hospital entrances which CHOC social workers would distribute in the hospital on their behalf.
The cancer network continues to encourage organisations and communities alike to work together this year as very few organisations were able to escape the negative impacts of the lockdown. “[It] ensures that every child with cancer or a life-threatening blood disorder receives the best support, access to treatment, essential medicine and palliative care,” concluded the cancer network in a statement.
Details: Childhood Cancer Foundation of South Africa 086 111 3500.
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