Global round-up

It’s been a busy year for the global childhood cancer community – here’s a look back at just a few of the many events and initiatives that have happened this year, and a look forward to the future.

Accra, Ghana
SAVE THE DATE! SIOP Africa meeting, 10-12th March 2010.

Bandung, Indonesia
The Indonesian Childhood Cancer Foundation celebrated International Childhood Cancer Day by holding an outward bound course for patients and survivors, in conjunction with the Indonesian Armed Forces!

Berlin, Germany
The annual joint SIOP/ ICCCPO meeting was held in early October 2008. More than 1,100 delegates attended the meetings.

Belgrade, Serbia
A new twinning programme has been set up between NURDOR, the Serbian umbrella organization of parent groups, and AGEOP-RICERCA, a parent organisation based in Bologna, Italy. The twinning initiative was born out of discussions held at a recent ICCCPO meeting.

Cameroon
December 2007 – First Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Board Burkitt’s Lymphoma Symposium held. The symposium brought together local healthcare professionals with overseas experts in order to try and improve the treatment and care of the 125 children diagnosed with Burkitt’s lymphoma annually in Cameroon.

Jakarta, Indonesia
A new hospital schooling programme, Sekolah-Ku, is now providing education and activities for children with cancer during their stays in hospital.

Johannesburg, South Africa
April 2008 – CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation hosted its annual meeting. The two-day meeting covered a wide range of topics, including advocacy, traditional healing, nutrition, support systems and the side effects of treatment.

Montevideo, Uruguay
March 2008 – the Grupo Latino-Americano de Oncologica Pediatrica (GALOP) was formed. Professional groups from across South America are members of GALOP, which is co-operating with the American Children’s Oncology Group on clinical trials.

Mumbai, India
May 2008 – the Cancer Patients Aid Association and Sadhu Vaswani Trust made the dreams of patients come true on ‘Grant a Wish’ day. As well as entertainment and food, each child received the present they requested – from video games to bicycles.

Muscat, Oman
February 2008 - SIOP Asia and Middle East Cancer Alliance (MECCA) meetings. Bringing together medical professionals, parents and support groups, the theme was ‘In quest of a complete cure’. Over 200 participants came from more than 30 countries. The workshop for patients, parents and survivors was so successful it led to the formation of a local parents support group.

Perth, Australia
May 2008– meeting of the Australian and New Zealand Children’s Haematology Oncology Group.

Rome, Italy
February 2008 – the Confederation of Italian Parents of Children with Cancer celebrated International Childhood Cancer Day with a conference. They launched a new initiative called ‘L’Amore Cura’ (Love Cures), which ultimately aims to “promote a pilot project of telemedicine, to improve the treatment of patients who are far away, even in underdeveloped geographic areas.”

Sao Paolo, Brazil
SAVE THE DATE! The next SIOP/ICCCPO meeting will take place on 5-9th October 2009. Further information at www.siop2009.br

Syria
Battling to Smile Again (BASMA) is a nationwide organisation helping children with cancer and their families in Syria. Eighty volunteers and four members of staff provide emotional and financial support to help children through their treatment.

Tonga
March 2008 the Child Cancer Foundation of Tonga was established.

Tunis, Tunisia
May 2008 - SIOP Africa meeting