By George Bukenya
A report by Uganda Cancer Institute revealed that a total of 3,278 children and adolescents acquire cancer each year but only three out of ten seek treatment in Cancer treatment centres from the different parts of the country.
While addressing reporters at Uganda Media Centre in Kampala at the Launch of the International Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, 2025, Dr. Joyce Balagadde Kambugu the Head of Paediatric Oenology at Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) said that cases of cancers in children have increased but the number of those who access medical care is still minimal.
The Awanes Month is aimed at restoring hope among parents and patients and will be carried out under the Theme; ‘’Keeping Hope Alive, Survival is Possible’’. The fight against the killer disease is take to schools and churches and will run from 7th September, 2025 throughout the month. September 16th will be an open day for Cancer survivals who will be hosted at UCI will walk on Red Carpet at general public awareness function.
Dr Balagadde said that prevention of cancer in children at this time isn’t possible because the causes are not yet ascertained by researchers unlike like for cancers in adults where causes are kwon and preventable. The Specialist argued parents to take their children to the cancer treatment centres in Uganda once they suspect because it’s curable.
“ Although there’s minimal access to medical care, survival is very possible for patients who are diagnosed with cancer and receive treatment,’’ Dr. Balagadde revealed. “ Our five-year survival data indicate that 68% for Hodgkins lymphoma, 55% for Burkiits’s Lymphoma, abd 44% for Wilms tumour survived.
She emphasized the importance of early detection through seeking diagnosis from UCI centres by children’s parents as the only measure that can help to curb down the increasing number of cancer case in children.
According to Dr. Balagadde, some parents and guardians deny child patients of medical care because of stigma for they perceive this as death sentence. In fact she said that this is attributed to the low turn up for screening and treatment.
The Head of Department Community Cancer Education at UCI Dr. Alfred Jatho said that although cancer in children is curable, there is hindrance s which hinders parents from accessing medical services which include; stigma, long distance to palliative care centres and high levels of poverty among others.
He also said the symptoms are abnormally swelling on some parts of the child’s body, persistent fever which most parents treat as malaria, weight loss and constant bleeding without proper explanation.
“ If a parent sees such conditions affecting a child she/he should quickly visit the Cancer centre for diagnosis,’’ Dr. Jatho advised.