World Child Cancer Day 2013; Nurse Glenn’s Report from Banso Baptist Hospital

We are happy to announce that our WCCD celebration was a big success here in Banso. We celebrated the day together with 3 parents, 5 survivors, and colleagues from the Catholic hospital, Shisong, and the local District Health Office.

The Chief of Bureau for Kumbo West Health District was very helpful in sharing our posters with all the chiefs of the various government health centres in Kumbo West Health District. Our colleagues from Shisong, with the assistance of the Matron and the full commitment of Mr. Shey Godfred, printed and displayed posters around their hospital, explained the early warning signs of child cancer to patients at the OPD, and also to patients and carers on their Children’s ward.

Here at BBH, we started the day in chapel with ‘awareness creation’, we presented our survivors as a testimony to the fact that “cancer can be treated”. Sister Vera explained the early warning signs of the most common childhood cancers in Cameroon to colleagues of our hospital. After chapel, we gave a talk to patients and carers at the Out Patients Department. We also posted the WCCD posters all around the hospital.

Later in the day, we had a one-hour panel discussion on the most popular radio station in Kumbo (courtesy of the Matron of Shisong – and at no charge). Our panel comprised of 3 nurses from BBH, 3 parents, 1colleague from Shisong, and one survivor. We explained the purpose of the day, explained the early warning signs, the importance of early diagnosis, and urged the public to be watchful. Our parents and our survivor all shared their experiences on air.

We crowned the day with a fellowship meal with parents and survivors, (which was cooked for us by a colleague on children’s ward).

We really enjoyed collaboration from the Catholic Hospital, and the District Health Service. We are confident that our sensitization went far and wide.

Best regards.
Glenn Mbah,
Reaearch Assistant Nurse
Banso Baptist Hospital

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