Around one lakh children are diagnosed with different types of cancer each year, and not many of them survive. This is because the cancer is detected at an advanced stage, requiring aggressive treatment and palliative care.
Dr N. Jaya Latha director, MNJ Cancer Hospital explains, “Many children suffer from tremendous pain and, often, parents are unable to take care of them. The palliative care centre provides counselling for family members, options to treat the children and takes care of them. In case of disability, we also provide caregivers who go home and look after these children.”
The Special Interest Group-Indian Association of Palliative Care has a centre in the hospital where they take care of more than 2,000 children. Dr B.V. Manjula, President (Pain Relief and Palliative Care Society), says that the biggest challenge is parents who do not have money to travel for treatment. But a solution is in sight. Dr Latha explains, “The government will supply morphine in district hospital pediatric units.”
