Background and Context:
Community mobilization and outreach activities to comb out all children with Burkitts Lymphoma (BL) in Western Kenya Region had not only resulted into BL cases presenting to the Health Center but also a huge number of children with end stage disease presenting to these facilities and needing attention.
A child with Life limiting conditions not only face the challenges of pain but of rejection by peers and community members who do not understand their plights but relates their dilemma with a taboo or a bad omen that has befallen the family. These children are really stigmatized especially those whose appearances have been disfigured.
Aim:
This
is an experience paper highlighting the plight of children that presented with
life challenging conditions in a BL treatment program in Western Kenya region.
Strategy/Tactics:
Pain management, management of distressing symptoms is provided by a team of health workers that include physicians, nurses, social workers, physiotherapists and nutritionists who see these children both in the clinic and in the community during outreach activities.
Programme/Policy Process: The document on cancer control that is all inclusive is in the process of implemntation
Outcomes/What was learned:
Out of the 258 spotted cases, 110 have been enrolled in the research program with the remaining being ineligible due to advanced disease or other terminal conditions that presented as tumors and referred to us for management. A number of parents and their children have reported improved comfort as far as the distressing symptoms are concerned. This initiative registered marked improvement in quality of life to the suffer
A strong structure for management of children with end stage disease should be
put on the ground which can only be achieved through collaboration and
networking.