Young cancer patients celebrated Eid Al Fitr with volunteers from the Smile initiative who distributed gifts and uplifted the spirits of the youngsters.
The visit to the Abdulla Kanoo Paediatric Oncology Unit at Salmaniya Medical Complex was part of the initiative’s ongoing commitment to provide psychosocial support for children with cancer and their families in Bahrain.
Those receiving treatment at home were asked to collect their gifts from the Smile headquarters in Umm Al Hassam.
The visit was sponsored by Mohsen Ali Dashti and a group of corporate representatives who are patrons of Smile, launched in 2012 under the Bahrain Future Society for Youth.
Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body.
According to a latest World Health Organisation (WHO) report, globally, more than 400,000 children and adolescents aged until 19 years are diagnosed with cancer every year.
The latest Global Cancer Observatory estimates for the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region show that there were about 36,000 new cases of paediatric cancers and 16,500 deaths in 2022.
Happiness
“We were eager to channel the spirit of Eid to bring smiles and happiness to the faces of these brave children,” the society’s president Sabah Al Zayani told the GDN.
“Their excitement during the entertainment activities was heart-warming and we were equally moved by the gratitude expressed by parents, who emphasised the positive impact the initiative has had on easing their children’s emotional burdens,” he added.
Mr Al Zayani highlighted that the campaign was part of a broader series of periodic visits organised by Smile to the Abdullah Khalil Kanoo Paediatric Oncology Unit in co-ordination with local government hospitals.
He also underscored the value of community engagement in supporting young patients and acknowledged the essential role that volunteers and supporters of the cause play in the success of the society’s campaigns and events.
Smile stages a wide range of programmes all year round, proceeds of which are directed toward sustaining the initiative’s commitment to support children clinically and emotionally. These include interactive weekly hospital visits, targeted psychological and recreational sessions and both financial and emotional support to families.
The GDN previously reported that the Smile initiative was honoured in the Support and Care for Community category at the seventh edition of the Shaikha Fatima Programme for Excellence and Community Intelligence Awards, staged in Abu Dhabi, last month.
The category recognises innovative initiatives that help raise health awareness among communities and play an important role in addressing challenges.
In the past, Smile has successfully collaborated with private sector and government entities, particularly the Health Ministry and government hospitals, as well as the Social Development Ministry, to spread awareness about the cause and raise funds for children suffering from the disease.
Earlier this year, it launched its ‘Smile Shop’, a creative platform to support children with cancer and to sell a variety of merchandise that will be made available online and at retail hubs across the country.
The products include bags, bottles, books and mugs, carrying striking designs by Bahraini artists, with 80 per cent of the proceeds from the sales set to help the cause.
Last year, 47 children who had successfully battled cancer were honoured at a graduation ceremony held by the society. It was part of the 11th edition of the ‘Kids R Golden’ campaign, which was held at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland – Medical University of Bahrain, Busaiteen under the patronage of Supreme Council for Health chairman Lieutenant General Dr Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa.
melissa@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))