October Newsletter
Posted in Newsletter, tagged Abiyyu, Ahmad Jaelani, Askeskin, chemotherapy, Cipto Hospital, Dharmais Hospital, eye cancer, Feni, Jakarta, Jakarta Free Spirit, Jela, mary's cancer kiddies, MCK, MRIs, radiotherapy, Retinoblastoma, Rumah Singgah Anak, soft tissue cancer, tumor on 01/10/2007 |Leave a Comment »
Greetings from Mary’s Cancer Kiddies volunteers! In the year since our last newsletter we have continued to cover costs of treatment for children with cancer whose families are too poor to pay and where government insurance schemes are not filling the gap. Here we provide an update on developments and our plans. We hope you find this useful and welcome your comments.
Changes to government health insuranceThere have been major changes in the assistance available to poor families with children suffering from cancer over the past year.
For a period, the vast majority of treatments and medicines for these children were covered by a government health insurance scheme, Askeskin. As a result, MCK focused on paying for one-off expenses that were not included in the scheme, such as MRIs, emergency treatments (blood transfusions, emergency operations, etc) and palliative care (primarily provision of pain relief).
Unfortunately, government miscalculations regarding the high level of demand for Askeskin, coupled with recent revelations of corruption in it implementation, have caused the system to break down. Hospital claims are outstanding, an increasing number of patient claims are not being covered, and the resolution to the problem is unclear.
Impact on families and MCK
The consequence of this is that poor families are once again facing enormous financial burdens in order to cover the cost of their children’s cancer treatment. Not surprisingly, the demand for MCK assistance has grown substantially and we are now covering a broader range of costs, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments.
This demand is set to continue unless or until the problems related to the government insurance scheme is resolved. In the short term, this does not seem likely. Even if it were to happen, there would remain aspects of childhood cancer treatment uncovered by the scheme and the need among very poor families will remain for an alternative source of funding to meet the shortfall.
In response to requests from doctors at Cipto hospital, since June 2007 MCK has secured a sponsor who has been providing modest financial assistance to cover one-off costs of children suffering from infectious diseases and other ailments other then cancer. This includes illnesses such as tetanus, HIV, tuberculosis, acute diarrhea and malnutrition. Costs per diagnoses or treatment are on average Rp 90.000 (€ 7). These patients are usually eligible for some government assistance but MCK covers costs pending completion of necessary paperwork.
One such patient for whom the prognosis of a full recovery is excellent is eight-year-old Feni who has typhoid.
Feni
Rumah Singgah Anak
Changing lives
We realize that MCK’s assistance is only a tiny initiative that can help just a very limited number of children. However, for the families concerned the impact can be enormous.
One of the children of whom we are most proud is 12-year-old Abiyyu, He was diagnosed three years ago with Retinoblastoma (eye cancer), since when he has successfully completed his treatment and his cancer is in remission. It is not an exaggeration to say that without MCK his story would have been very different. In June 2004, halfway through Abiyyu’s treatment, his family had sold everything they owned and borrowed heavily to pay for his medical bills, and were preparing to take Abiyyu home because they could no longer cover the costs.
Hero, Abiyyu (centre) and Mum
Today Abiyyu leads a normal life like other boys his age. He goes to school, is a keen football player, and loves Play Station. The photo, left, taken in July, shows the enormous progress Abiyyu has made as he stands proudly with his brother and mother.
Dharmais and Cipto Hospital, Jakarta
MCK has continued over the past year to concentrate our assistance in Jakarta where most cancer specialists and cancer hospitals are located, primarily in Dharmais Hospital, which houses the only special ward in the country for treating children with cancer, and Cipto Hospital.
Since January, MCK has provided funds to assist approximately 30 children. They include children as young as 18 months, through to children in their early teens. Many of the children live in the Greater Jakarta area, although others are referred to hospitals in the capital from all over Indonesia.
Jela
Eleven-year-old Ahmad Jaelani has advanced rhabdomyosarcoma, a soft tissue cancer. The eldest of three chldren, his father is a motorbike taxi driver and his mother is a housewife. Ahmad has been having chemotherapy treatment for the past year and this has successfully reduced the size of the tumour on his right eye. MCK has been assisting with the costs of his treatment since August.
Ahmad Jaelani
MCK arranged for forty-three patients and parents to join the fun at the annual Zoo Run in May. Our thanks to all those who helped make it such a memorable day.
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