By Politico Staff Writer
The Oncology department of the country’s main referral hospital – Connaught – has received a major boost with critical medical supplies, thanks to the humanitarian gesture from a private citizen.
A consignment of medication worth £3,000 was donated to the Palliative Care Team of the department by anti-cancer campaigner, Tina Davies.
A news dispatch from her communications team said the donation made on Friday, December 4, was part of her “annual humanitarian gesture” towards people battling cancer.
Davies reportedly made the donation alongside fellow campaigner, Josephine Ngebeh.
The donated items, according to the news dispatch, include Oramorph, among many other controlled drugs relevant in the treatment of cancer.
In addition, patients in the ward were given individual Christmas packages containing COVID-19 hygiene (two clothe face masks, one bottle of alcohol based hand sanitizer, each) and assorted confectionaries.
Politico learnt that this is not the first time Ms Davies has made a donation to the center. This latest gesture comes after she made a visit to the center to check the Control Drugs record to ensure that previous donations were used for the intended purpose.
Ms Davies was quoted saying that cancer causes a lot of physical and psychological pain and that the donation is part of efforts to relieve the physical pain and suffering of the men, women and children in their palliative stage of cancer.
“I will love to see a realistic standard where patient’s pathway is designed and followed from diagnosis to treatment and palliative care to ensure patients journey is made easy,” she was quoted.
She also mentioned the need for training of the nurses and the need to treat patients and their loved ones with empathy, dignity and respect, noting that that will improve the quality of care and patient experience.
Dr. Mary Bunn, the Palliative Care Specialist at Connaught, who received the donation on behalf of the department, expressed thanks and appreciation to the benefactors for their “kindly gesture.”
"This is not the first donation we have received from Tina, similar donations of such high economic and psychological value were received in June 2019,” she said, adding: “Tina understands the need of cancer patients as she has the experience as a professional, working in Oncology.
Dr. Bunn said the donated items were neither part of the government’s free healthcare drugs, nor are they available in pharmacies in country as they are very expensive, making the donation very important to them.
Mrs. Ramatu Kanu, a patient at the hospital who underwent a left mastectomy (removal of the breast), expressed gratitude for the gesture, noting that it has raised her hope of being pain-free.
“My life is more important for now because with a healthy life, I will gradually recover from the psychological effect of the surgery,” she said.
Cancer care is largely unavailable in Sierra Leone. What little is available is very expensive, forcing many Sierra Leoneans to live in constant pain when they develop cancer. Data show that cancer is a growing public health concern.
The UN estimates that about 3000 people develop cancer every year in the country, with about 2000 people dying from it.
Breast cancer is said to be one of the most prevalent forms of the condition in the country.
Copyright © 2020 Politico Online
