Who is Mathiwos Wondu?
Mathiwos , the third and youngest son of his parents Mr. Wondu Bekele and Mrs. Amsale Beyene, was born on June 17, 1999 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Until he celebrated his second birthday he was very healthy, energetic and his growth was corresponding to his age. A few days after celebrating his second birthday, heun-expectedly became very ill, and after clinical investigation he was confirmed to be ALL-type Leukemia Cancer patient.
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The Max Foundation’s “Kids can rise above cancer too” Program in Ethiopia
The Max Foundation's “Kids can rise above cancer too” has been celebrated for the first in Ethiopia at the Black Lion Hospital on October 8, 2011.About 100 individuals have attended the occasion. Participants were made to represent as many as possible from major stakeholders in the country. There was a reason for the thought of having all-important stakeholders on board on the occasion.
In addition to celebrating Max birthday,the program had also a purpose of creating a rare platform in the country where in different stakeholders air out their concerns and reflecting on achievements made in cancer prevention, early diagnosis and treatment.The goal for the 2011 Celebrations of Life theme is to benefit at least 2,000 kids with cancer around the world, so far according the information, we received 4150 kids participated in 25 countries. The 2011 “Kids can rise above cancer too” campaign carried out in partnership with patient groups around the world. The aim of this year’s campaign is to encourage survivors to celebrate life, while giving back to their communities by helping the most vulnerable populations affected by cancer: children.
This opportunity is especially timely given the United Nations (UN) High Level Summit meeting that took place on September 19th-20th addressing cancer control, which provided a global platform to focus the world’s attention on childhood cancers. World leaders, as well as citizens of the world may not realize how cure or remission for childhood cancer is possible with early detection, increased diagnostic capacities, enhanced access to life saving treatment, and increased community support
The event aims to create better policy environment for cancer prevention and mitigation efforts using advocacy and awareness raising approaches. The institutions, which attended the event, are responsible for developing policy and strategy concerning child welfare, and health related issues. There is no doubt their better understanding of cancer more particularly pediatric cancer issues and on the challenges, the pediatric cancer patients go through will be eventually translated in to the efforts geared towards enhancing the capacity of diagnosis and treatment of cancer here in Ethiopia.
To be specific on some noteworthy stakeholders in attendance on the event;
- Pat Gracia – Gonzalez, Executive Director of Max Foundation.
- Representative of the Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Health.
- Representative of the Ethiopian Ministry of Women, Children and Youth Affairs.
- Dr.Aster Tsegaye, CEO of the Black Lion Hospital.
- Mr.Wondu Bekele, General Manager of Mathiwos Wondu-YeEthiopia Cancer Society.
- Oncologist, doctors and nurses working in the hospital.
- Media crew drawn from the Ethiopian TV and radio agency.
- Cancer survivors and their families.
- Pediatric cancer patients and their respective families.
Children comprise an important and vulnerable sector of society. Unlike many cancers, Childhood cancer cannot be prevented; it is not the fault and may not be blamed on the parents or the family. It selects children indiscriminately regardless of race, colour, creed, living conditions or wealth. Death from childhood cancer can, however, be prevented.
Perhaps more than any other NCD, childhood cancer is a stark reminder of the human cost of entrenched global health inequities. In developed countries, where those affected have access to highly developed treatment protocols and well-trained medical staff, 85% of children survive. However, children with cancer who live in resource-poor countries have to contend with: absence of specialist treatment facilities for childhood cancer, lack of health professionals with expertise in childhood cancer, extremely high cost of medicines and treatment, late or incorrect diagnosis, and of the small minority that are diagnosed correctly, only about 15% survive.
Despite the glaring global inequalities, childhood cancers in lower and middle-income countries, where 88% of the world’s children live, receive little attention from researchers and health authorities.
The management of the Black lion Hospital and its staff have been tirelessly working to improve the existing situation and enhance the capacity to treat cancer patients in the hospital. We would like to thank them for their tireless effort and commitment to make a difference. We would like to guarantee them our continued support and collaboration in their effort to decrease the suffering of pediatric cancer patients and increase their survival rate.
Due to the existing condition in the Black Lion Hospital, the only cancer treating hospital in Ethiopia, cancer patients are treated as per availability of beds and medicines. Parents of pediatric cancer patient face challenge particularly in-between treatments, as the lack of beds does not allow them to have their children in hospital for long periods. It is high time we have our own cancer center where we:
- Cater the basic needs of pediatric cancer patients and their families through providing shelter, food; cover transport and basics costs for both intra city and village to capital travel and vice verse while they are in-between treatment in Addis Ababa.
- Provide service in which cancer patients and their families get together, relax and share their experiences.
- Equip and refurbish the pediatric center with a lounge, a modern child’s, clinic, a TV and DVD player, children’s books and toys in order to create a positive and child friendly atmosphere.
- Set up and furnishing cancer documentation center, where patients and researchers can get cancer related information.
- Provide supportive service and essential drugs to needy pediatric cancer patients.
- Provide free psychosocial support and family integration services to childhood cancer patients and their families during periods of rest following treatment.
- Provide a naturally healthy and patient friendly environment that allows for healing and recuperation.
We call upon government and non-government organizations, partners and friends to support us in whatever way they can to realize the long awaited cancer center here in Addis Ababa first and then in major cities of Ethiopia.
The other major objective of the program is to celebrate one of the most successful cancer stories we had in recent years. The successful running of Philadelphia Chromosome test in Ethiopia on October 06, 2011.
We strongly believe that it is a new chapter in history of our country regarding the care, diagnosis and monitoring of patient with leukemia. This initiative not only save a whole lot of money and time which we were forced to pay for laboratory tests done overseas, it immensely enhances our capacity to diagnose and treat leukemia in Ethiopia. Dedicated individuals and institutions inside & outside Ethiopia made this “breakthrough” achievement possible through the restless effort and continuous support. The Max Foundation, the International CML Foundation ( iCMLf), ENHRI & the Management of the Black Lion Hospital, the Hematology Unit of Internal Medicine Department (AAU) have been the prominent players in this monumental success.
We would like to congratulate all involved,for their commendable achievement and for succesfully conducting the first laboratory test of its kind in Ethiopia. On behalf of Mathiwos Wondu-YeEthiopia Cancer Society, the Ethiopian NCD Consortium and the civil society, we would like to express our deep admiration & respect to Pat Gracia – Gonzalez (who has put the project as her priority the day she heard about our poor CML patients), Dr. Almaz & Feyissa for their indispensable contribution, Dr. Amha Gebremedhin ( who has dedicated all his countless efforts & time throughout by handling the whole process systematically and humbly) and Dr Abdulaziz and all the other people actively participated in this historical program.
We would like to thank you all for your tireless effort intended to decrease the suffering of our leukemia patients and increase their survival rate.This process has highlighted once again the enormous power of a united cancer control community. From the global to local level, we have united behind a common strategy and made our voices heard loud and clear. We have to continue our united effort and commitment and will not rest until we have quality health services for those living with leukemia and other cancers and until measures are in place to stop the increase in new cases. Together, we are moving into a new era for global cancer control and more than ever before we are certain, together we can challenge the growing burden of cancer.
The other major objective of the program is to celebrate one of the most successful cancer stories we had in recent years. The successful running of Philadelphia Chromosome test in Ethiopia on October 06, 2011.
We strongly believe that it is a new chapter in history of our country regarding the care, diagnosis and monitoring of patient with leukemia. This initiative not only save a whole lot of money and time which we were forced to pay for laboratory tests done overseas, it immensely enhances our capacity to diagnose and treat leukemia in Ethiopia. Dedicated individuals and institutions inside & outside Ethiopia made this “breakthrough” achievement possible through the restless effort and continuous support. The Max Foundation, the International CML Foundation ( iCMLf), ENHRI & the Management of the Black Lion Hospital, the Hematology Unit of Internal Medicine Department (AAU) have been the prominent players in this monumental success.
We would like to congratulate all involved,for their commendable achievement and for succesfully conducting the first laboratory test of its kind in Ethiopia. On behalf of Mathiwos Wondu-YeEthiopia Cancer Society, the Ethiopian NCD Consortium and the civil society, we would like to express our deep admiration & respect to Pat Gracia – Gonzalez (who has put the project as her priority the day she heard about our poor CML patients), Dr. Almaz & Feyissa for their indispensable contribution, Dr. Amha Gebremedhin ( who has dedicated all his countless efforts & time throughout by handling the whole process systematically and humbly) and Dr Abdulaziz and all the other people actively participated in this historical program.
We would like to thank you all for your tireless effort intended to decrease the suffering of our leukemia patients and increase their survival rate.This process has highlighted once again the enormous power of a united cancer control community. From the global to local level, we have united behind a common strategy and made our voices heard loud and clear. We have to continue our united effort and commitment and will not rest until we have quality health services for those living with leukemia and other cancers and until measures are in place to stop the increase in new cases. Together, we are moving into a new era for global cancer control and more than ever before we are certain, together we can challenge the growing burden of cancer.
Mr.Wondu Bekele, General Manger of MWECS presenting welcoming speech.
The event was officially opened by an introductory remark made by Mr.Wondu Bekele, General Manger of Mathiows Wondu-YeEthiopia Cancer Society (MWECS). On behalf of the organizing committee and himself he thanked all and specially Pat for joining them all the way from Seattle, west coast of U.S.A to participate in this very important campaign program, Maximize life Events “Kids can rise above cancer too” program. According to Mr.Wondu Bekele, the event aimed to create better policy environment for cancer prevention and mitigation efforts using advocacy and awareness raising approaches. The institutions, which are expected to attend the event, are shapers, makers in the nation landscape in terms of issuing child welfare, and health related issues. There is no doubt their better understanding of cancer more particularly pediatric cancer issues and on the challenges the pediatric cancer patients go through will be eventually translated in to the efforts geared towards changing the sub- standard situations currently prevailing in the sector in terms of having low slice of budget and in general in terms of having low attention accorded to it by the government.
Dr. Aster Tsegaye presenting opening remark.
In her opening remark, Dr. Aster Tsegaye, elaborated at length about the on – going efforts by the hospital to scale up the quality and accessibility of cancer treatments. She also outlined challenges the hospital right now facing in its bid to improve treatment access and quality, about her concerns and where she would like to see stakeholders to step in and work in unison with the hospital to address the limitation observed on treatment .Before winding up her speech Dr. Aster expressed her gratitudes for Max Foundation especially Pat Garcia-Gonzalez , who is executive director of the aforementioned organization and to the medics working in the cancer ward for their relentless efforts to help cancer patients with in the situations very challenging.
As soon as doctor Aster finished her speech, Doctor Amha was next to brief the history of CML treatment and the breakthrough made to successfully conduct the Philadelphia Chromosome test in Ethiopia on October 06, 2011, the first laboratory test of its kind to be done here in Ethiopia.
As soon as doctor Aster finished her speech, Doctor Amha was next to brief the history of CML treatment and the breakthrough made to successfully conduct the Philadelphia Chromosome test in Ethiopia on October 06, 2011, the first laboratory test of its kind to be done here in Ethiopia.
Dr.Amha Geremedhin, Associate Professor of Medicine is head of the group who succesfully conducting the first Philadelphia Chromosome test in Ethiopia.
Next speaker was Pat Garcia-Gonzalez who presented very emotional and moving speech and later on had the privilege to light candles prepared for the occasion cake cutting ceremony followed by presenting gifts to more than 50 kids.
Pat Garcia-Gonzalez, Executive Director of the Max Foundation.
Cake ceremony and presentation of gifts were some of the major highlights of the program.
Dr.Bogale Solomon, Senior Oncologist presenting cancer in Ethiopia.
Dr.Bogale Solomon was, Senior Oncologist was next speaker who came to the forefront and discussed the history of cancer treatment in Ethiopia. In the same speech doctor Bogale, expressed his delight for succesfully conducting the Philadelphia Chromosome test in Ethiopia, had just started to carried out in Ethiopia, rather than blood samples taken to overseas for examination. In related to this development, he outlined why he is considering the aforementioned development in the country as a breakthrough. He also briefed the audience the on-going nuclear medicine and cancer treatment expansion programs in five regional university hospitals.
The next speaker, who assumed the podium was Dr. Muluwork Tefera, representing pediatric ward of the hospital, presented problems, challenges and prospects at the ward and called upon all concerned to help them to decrease the suffering of pediatric cancer patients and increase their survival rate.
Dr.Muluwork Tefera of Pediatric Ward presenting problems, challenges and prospects faced by her department
Ample time was given for questions and answer, particularly from cancer patients and survivors and moving comments were given particularly from pediatric cancer patients and CML survivors and thanked Pat and the Max Foundation for their support and cooperation
Emotional discussion in progress.
Mr.Sisay Endale of the Federal Ministry of Health presenting closing remarks.
Mr.Sisay Endale, as representative of the Federal Ministry of Health thanked all involved particularly, the Max Foundation, the Black Lion Hospital and Mathiwos Wondu-YeEthiopia Cancer Society for their tireless effort to challenge the growing cancer burden in Ethiopia. He underscored the fact that Ethiopian Government had come to fully aware of the growing cancer burden in the country and ensured to the participants and others outside the event that the government is committed towards enhancing its bid to curtail the spread of cancer and improve the health infrastructure in general to improve diagnostic and treatment capacity in particular.
Some of meeting participant poised for photos.
In the end, Mr. Wondu Bekele, once again came to the stage and reaffirmed the society’s commitment to further enhanced it’s on – going efforts despite so many challenges on its way. He also thanked max foundation and its executive director; Pat Garcia-Gonzalez for the support it extended to the society so that the latter could organize this event and the Federal Ministry of Health, Ministry of Women, Children and Youth Affairs and the Black Lion Hospital for their participation and KALDI’s COFFE and Sur Canteen German Restaurant for their support and participation.
Cancer is not a battle that one can fight and win in isolation and we look forward to the professional, moral and material support of willing individuals and organizations in order to make a difference!