The Executive Secretary of Lifeline for Childhood Cancer Foundation Ghana, Akua Sarpong, has urged Government to broaden the scope of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) for it to cater for the treatment of Childhood Cancer and its associated medical complications.

Speaking with Joy Prime’s Benjamin Akakpo on Monday, she said, “children are vulnerable, hence the need for the Government to prioritise their wellness.” She added that it is a travesty to see how children have been neglected in terms of the coverage of the NHIS policy.

“We claim that children are the future leaders, however, they are not treated as claimed. This is because they are invincible and voiceless”, she stated.

Childhood cancer, also called pediatric cancer, is a general term used to describe a range of cancer types found in children under age 15.

Most of the time, there is no known cause for childhood cancers. Childhood cancers may behave very differently from adult cancers, even when they start in the same part of the body.

Cancer begins when healthy cells change and grow out of control. In most types of cancer, these cells form a mass called a tumor. A tumor can be cancerous or benign. A cancerous tumor is malignant, meaning it can grow and spread to other parts of the body. A benign tumor means the tumor can grow but will not spread to distant parts of the body.

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and a time to recognise children and families affected by childhood cancers and to emphasize the importance of supporting research on these devastating condition.

Adding her voice to the awareness campaign, the Executive Secretary said, Government needs to absorb the cost of treating Childhood cancer because it is expensive. This, according to her, will help reduce the rising cases in the country and ease the financial burden on parents.

She insisted that, if breast and cervical cancers among the elderly, are covered by the policy, then there is no need to wait anymore for childhood cancer to be placed onto the NHIS.

“It is important to prioritise the healthcare of children, Childhood cancer victims need the support of Government. NHIS should care for it without arguments”, she pleaded.