BY SIBUSISEKILE NDLANGAMANDLA
MANZINI– Eswatini Childhood Cancer Foundation Patron Dr Charity Newton has pledged continued support for childhood cancer survivors beyond the completion of treatment, saying the foundation will walk with them as they rebuild their lives outside the hospital.
Newton said survivorship should not mark the end of support, as some survivors may continue to face physical, emotional, educational and social challenges after treatment. “That is why our responsibility as a foundation must go beyond treatment. We must walk with our survivors beyond the hospital,” she said.
Speaking during Survivors’ Day in Manzini, Newton said the foundation wants survivors to receive the support they need to reach their full potential and not only survive childhood cancer but thrive afterwards. She said survivors may have questions about their health, education, careers and future, making continued support important as they transition beyond treatment.
The foundation wants survivors to return to school, pursue careers, build relationships and participate fully in their communities. She also emphasised the importance of early diagnosis, saying the foundation wants children affected by cancer to be diagnosed as early as possible while ensuring that families receive the support they need.
Newton also acknowledged parents and caregivers for standing alongside children throughout their cancer journeys, noting that a child’s diagnosis affects the entire family. She also thanked healthcare workers involved in caring for children with cancer, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory professionals, social workers and psychologists, for providing care and support during difficult periods.
She said the foundation’s work requires a collective effort because childhood cancer cannot be addressed by one organisation alone. Addressing children currently fighting cancer, Newton reminded them that they are not alone and that there is a community that wants to see them grow, learn, laugh, dream and fulfil their potential.
To the survivors, she said their experiences can give hope to children still undergoing treatment and strength to families facing uncertainty. “Cancer does not define who you are,” she said. She called for continued collaboration towards an Eswatini where every child affected by cancer can access quality care, overcome the disease and live a full and meaningful life. “Every child matters. Every survivor matters. Every family matters,” Newton said.
#EswatiniChildhoodCancerFoundation #ChildhoodCancer #CancerSurvivors #SurvivorsDay #Eswatini #ChildHealth #EveryChildMatters
