Cancer Association opens new home for young cancer patients

Saima Nambinga, the chairman of the Cancer Association board, popular entertainer Female Donkey, the Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services, Hon Juliet Kavetuna, and the Chief Executive of the Cancer Association, Rolf Hansen, this week officially opened the CHICA interim home for children with cancer.

The new N$3.2 million home is adjacent to the Cancer Association’s existing Acacia Interim Home in Windhoek West. It is also close to the association’s head office. It was renovated and furnished with financial support from private individuals and from companies.

Hansen thanked the Deputy Minister for her support saying the Ministry of Health and Social Services provides great primary health and cancer care.”

“We see that on average between 140 and 170 young Namibians between the ages of birth and 12 years are diagnosed with some form of cancer annually” he said adding that the treatment of child cancer is much more aggressive, much more painful and much more sensitive than for adult patients.

The CHICA (Children Fighting Cancer) Namibia Fund is the childhood cancer care wing within the Cancer Association of Namibia.

“The CHICA interim home is a place of safety and solitude for Namibian children fighting cancer, and their parents who need accommodation while their young ones are being treated” said Hansen.

The home can accommodate five mothers whose children are in treatment, or four mothers together with one child each.

Hansen said the first mothers and patients who will use the home as a temporary abode, will arrive later this month.