BY PHUMELELE GAMEDZE
MBABANE – For more than 100 childhood cancer survivors and their families gathered in Mbabane on Friday, the occasion was more than a celebration. It was a powerful reminder that surviving cancer is not the end of a journey, but the beginning of another chapter filled with dreams, possibilities and hope.
Her Royal Highness Inkhosikati Make LaNkhambule delivered an uplifting message to survivors and children still undergoing treatment, reminding them that cancer does not have the final word over their lives.
Represented by Princess Buhle Betive during Childhood Cancer Survivors Day 2026 at Hilton Garden Inn, Her Royal Highness told the children that their experiences with cancer should never be allowed to define their future.
“To every child still fighting, we are cheering for you. We look forward to celebrating your survivorship with you,” she said.
The gathering brought together more than 100 childhood cancer survivors and their families in an atmosphere filled with celebration, encouragement and solidarity.
For children still receiving treatment, the presence of survivors offered something especially important — visible proof that the difficult road they are travelling can lead to recovery.
Her Royal Highness acknowledged that treatment can come with exhausting days, fear and uncertainty, but encouraged the children to remain hopeful and continue following the advice of doctors and nurses.
She said the survivors in the room had already travelled a road no child should have to face, enduring difficult treatment and uncertainty with the support of their families and healthcare professionals.
Their courage, she said, deserved to be celebrated.
“Cancer may be a part of a child’s story, but it does not have to be the end of that story,” Her Royal Highness said.
She encouraged survivors not to hide or feel ashamed of what they had been through, including the physical and emotional scars left by their treatment.
Instead, she urged them to use their experiences to encourage children who may only be beginning their cancer journey.
Her Royal Highness reminded the young survivors that beyond cancer, they remain children and young people with talents to develop, ambitions to pursue and futures to build.
She said childhood cancer should never rob a child of an education, friendships, play or the opportunity to imagine what they want to become in life.
“Childhood cancer should never take away a child’s opportunity to dream about the future,” she said.
Her Royal Highness disclosed that Eswatini records approximately 14 new childhood cancer patients each year, stressing that every statistic represents a real child, a family and a dream for the future.
She said this reality made continued awareness, early recognition of childhood cancers and access to prompt, quality healthcare critical.
Her Royal Highness also paid special tribute to parents, guardians and caregivers who remain beside children throughout treatment.
She acknowledged the emotional and physical toll carried by families — from fear and uncertainty to financial sacrifices and sleepless nights.
“You waited, you prayed, and you continued to show up,” she told them.
Doctors, nurses, specialists, social workers and other healthcare professionals were also recognised for the role they play in supporting children through diagnosis, treatment and recovery.
Her Royal Highness called on Government, the private sector, development partners, healthcare professionals, schools, parents and communities to treat childhood cancer as a shared national responsibility.
She stressed that where a child lives should never determine whether they receive the care and support they need after being diagnosed with cancer.
The Survivors Day celebration included games, entertainment, support sessions, gifts and messages of encouragement, allowing survivors, families and children still undergoing treatment to share experiences and celebrate together.
For those who had completed treatment, the gathering was a chance to reflect on how far they had come.
For those still fighting cancer, the Royal message carried a simple but powerful promise of hope: their difficult chapter is not the end of their story.
Their story is still being written.
