Tim Eden who is a cancer specialist based in the capital will go back to Ghana soon, working to improve cancer services for children there. Previously the President of the International Society of Paediatric Oncologists, Tim worked at the Sick Kids before retiring.
He will be in Ghana at the same time as the World Child Cancer’s Stop the Childhood Cancer Clock campaign which aims to highlight childhood cancer in developing countries. Find out more about how to donate to the cause here.
To support the campaign, WCC patron and Outlander star Caitriona Balfe is also offering a fan the chance to visit the set in Glasgow. Fans of the show simply need to make a donation to World Child Cancer here where they will then be entered into a draw.
Although children in the developed world have an 80% chance of survival, it is as low as 10% in developing countries. The charity claims that the cost of treating a child with cancer in the UK is £100,000 but in Malawi it can be as little as £500.
All donations made throughout the appeal will be doubled by the UK Government’s UK Aid Match until 18 December 2017.
Tim said “There is clearly a lot more to do but all our volunteers, no matter what their profession, have become incredible champions of the cause. All of us are so impressed by the amazing progress achieved in all the countries where we work despite limited resources. Our Hippocratic Oath as doctors states “first do no harm” and we should do the best for all children no matter where they live.”
Tim also encouraged other medical experts in his community to get involved. “We in the UK benefit from the NHS and medical care is there for all who need it and this must be the ultimate goal in each country. Volunteering our help as professionals is very rewarding and giving money no matter how small to help the cause is so also. Ignoring the plight of children, the “future of our planet” is very short-sighted”
World Child Cancer programmes run in some of the poorest places in the world. Last year the charity helped over 5,500 children but, they say that with an estimated 200,000 unnecessary deaths each year, there is so much more that needs to be done.
John Rosser, CEO of World Child Cancer says: “World Child Cancer aims to address this issue through sustainable solutions, which increase awareness of childhood cancer, reduce misdiagnosis and support families that are being pushed further into poverty due to all the costs they have to bear.”
World Child Cancer builds partnerships between doctors and nurses at hospitals in the developed world who provide training and mentoring for doctors in developing countries. It also helps with transport, food and accommodation costs to meet the wider needs of families who have a child with cancer.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
