NGOs in Cancer Care: Role, Importance, Theme, Impact, etc.

NGOs in Cancer Care: World Cancer is an initiative of the (UICC), the largest and oldest international cancer organisation dedicated to taking the lead in convening, capacity building and advocacy initiatives that unite the cancer community to reduce the global cancer burden, promote greater equity, and integrate cancer control into the world health and development agenda.

Importance of NGOs in Cancer Care

It is celebrated annually on the 4th of February, and is a beacon of hope and a call to action.

Cancer, a formidable adversary, affects millions of lives globally. It’s a diagnosis that knows no boundaries – it doesn’t discriminate based on age, gender, or socio-economic status.

This is where World Cancer Day plays a pivotal role, reminding us that in unity, we find strength.

Theme Of 2024

This year 2024, the World Cancer Day theme is “Close the Care Gap,” which is a continuation of the 2022 theme and will last till 2024 (a 3-year campaign) with specified objectives for each year. It was expected that there would be more exposure and engagement in a multi-year campaign, as well as more opportunities to raise global awareness and have an impact.

Objective of NGOs in Cancer Care

In India, the incidence rate was reported between 19 and 20 lakhs (estimated) cases in 2022. Usage of Tobacco, prolonged consumption of alcohol, unhealthy food habits, lack of physical exercise, and exposure to air pollution are all risk factors for cancer.

Low and middle-income nations face a unique challenge in addressing the cancer risk caused by several chronic illnesses. In addition, these nations had shown poor cancer prognosis due to a lack of education, delayed diagnosis, and low access to affordable treatment. In developing countries too, the lack of cancer awareness leads to delay in diagnosis. A study reported in 2020, was conducted in four major centres in India, where the majority of cancer patients seek treatment for the first time only when they are in their advanced stages.

The literacy rate and low income greatly influence cancer awareness. In India, people with higher incomes and literacy levels were more aware of cancer than others.

To conclude, general awareness of cancer screening, prevention, and treatment is low among the Indian and global populations, especially in low and middle-income countries with poor literacy rates leading to an increase in cancer prevalence, and there is an urgent need to fill the lacunae with proper education. NGOs working for Cancer Day brings attention to how important it is to prevent cancer, find it early, and treat it.

Role of NGOs In Treating Cancer

NGOs in India aim to raise awareness against cancer, helping with early screening, educating people about the disease, and helping people with cancer through distinct programs. They run various campaigns to counsel cancer survivors with financial help, rehabilitation programs, and cancer research.

The effective delivery of cancer care hinges critically on patients’ adherence to timely and appropriate treatments. This adherence is significantly influenced by the support structures in place, where non-governmental organisations (NGOs) often play a crucial role.

Impact Created by NGOS

This discussion highlights how NGOs serve as essential intermediaries between patients and healthcare providers, potentially improving treatment outcomes.

Facilitating Access to Care: NGOs act as a bridge between patients and healthcare services, providing invaluable support that extends beyond basic medical care. Their involvement includes:

Logistical Support: Arranging accommodation, transportation, and sometimes food for patients travelling to receive treatment.

Financial Assistance: Offering financial aid for necessary laboratory investigations, surgeries, and other medical expenses.

Livelihood Support: Providing training and support to ensure that patients can manage their treatment costs and daily living needs.

Enhancing Policy Implementation: NGOs possess considerable flexibility in planning and budgeting, which enables them to effectively translate Ministry of Health (MOH) policies into actionable support. Their role in connecting policy with practical action can amplify the impact of health services in developing countries, bridging gaps between policy and practice.

Addressing Systemic Challenges: Despite their contributions, NGOs face significant challenges, including:

Funding Constraints: Limited financial resources can hinder their ability to support patients and sustain operations.

Awareness Gaps: A lack of awareness about the availability of state cancer institutes can lead to inefficient travel and additional costs for patients seeking care outside their home state.

Collaboration for Improved Outcomes: Studies have shown that efficient health system delivery often involves smooth transitions between various service providers. NGOs can enhance collaboration with cancer institutes to address:

Integration: Strengthening partnerships to ensure better coordination of services and support.

Patient Experience: Streamlining processes to reduce the time and financial burden on patients.

Also Read: Role of NGOs in Mental Health

Some NGOs Working For Cancer

Several NGOs are working for this cause. Out of the following some of them are mentioned below-

Cuddles Foundation

This child-focused cancer care NGO believes that providing nutrition to the illness-affected, especially children, is one of the most effective ways of fighting cancer. Around 40% of children with cancer in India are malnourished at diagnosis. Cuddles believes in providing holistic nutrition to underprivileged children fighting cancer.

Childhood cancer is mostly curable across the world. But in India, with up to 40% of children with cancer being malnourished at diagnosis, survival is a huge problem. To cure this problem they are on a mission to change that through our FoodHeals program. They give children undergoing cancer therapy at over 30 government and charity hospitals access to trained clinical paediatric nutritionists, expert dietary counsels, supplements, in-meals, hot meals, monthly ration baskets and caregiver support.

Charutar Arogya Mandal

The Charutar Arogya Mandal manages many medical and paramedical institutions across Gujarat. It is now one of the leading NGOs for cancer patients in India. The organisation is the brainchild of the late Dr HM Patel, former Finance and Home Affairs Minister.

It provides state-of-the-art multidisciplinary cancer care for patients from weaker economic groups at affordable or no cost. Shri Krishna Hospital, which the Mandal runs, does over 500 cancer surgeries. It also provides 2,000 patients with radiotherapy and 2,500 patients with chemotherapy every year

Indian Cancer Society

Founded in 1951, the Indian Cancer Society is considered to be the first cancer care NGO that started to provide help to patients in India. It has been helping with early cancer detection through centres and mobile camps across India. It especially focuses on the underprivileged.

It also supports the underprivileged with accommodation, rehabilitation, and survivor support groups. ICS runs several campaigns to create awareness about the disease, risk factors, prevention, and treatment options, and counsel patients and survivors. ICS is the sole body among the Indian NGOs to run a cancer registry.

Also Read: Role of WHO in Healthcare

Yuvraj Singh Foundation

Yuvraj Singh Foundation is a non-profit organisation established by cricketer and cancer survivor Yuvraj Singh. The organisation works extensively in the field of public health in India, focusing on cancer control. They envision an India empowered to defeat cancer. Their mission is to fight cancer through awareness, early detection, patient support, and survivor empowerment.

Their key focus areas are breast, paediatric, and oral cancer.

Cancer Patients Aid Association

Cancer Patients Aid Association (CPAA) is a 50+ year old non-profit organisation that addresses cancer as a health problem through its distinctive philosophy of ‘Total Management of Cancer’. CPAA works side-by-side with the medical fraternity, focusing on activities encompassing Awareness, Early Detection, Support for treatment, Guidance and Counseling, Rehabilitation, Research Studies and Advocacy.

The primary concern of CPAA is to meet the needs of poor cancer patients who do not have access to nor can afford cancer treatment. CPAA reaches out to patients from all walks of life in every possible way. With five decades of experience in cancer management, CPAA now mentors other healthcare organisations across India, based on this holistic philosophy and has offices in Mumbai, New Delhi and Pune.

Conclusion

Each one of us has a role to play in the fight against cancer, whether it’s through raising awareness, supporting research initiatives, or simply being there for someone in need. Together, we can make strides toward a future where cancer is preventable, treatable, and ultimately defeated.

Future Directions

Strengthening NGO-Cancer Institute Collaboration: Enhanced coordination between NGOs and cancer treatment centres could improve service delivery and patient experience.
Increasing Awareness: Educating patients about available resources and state cancer institutes to prevent unnecessary travel and reduce costs.
Addressing Financial Constraints: Seeking additional funding and resources to alleviate the financial pressures faced by NGOs, thereby allowing them to better support patients.