By ESTHER ONYEGBULA

A MEGA charity fund raising concert tagged: “Paediatric Cancer Concert” holds Saturday December 7, 2013 at the Golden Tulip Hotel Festac, Lagos. The event is being put together by Golden Tulip and Help-to-Heal Foundation in aid of cancer survivors and those afflicted with the disease.

Initiator and General Manager, Golden Tulip, Mr. Shousha Mohesen, said the Foundation would be offering support in the area of finance, procurement of treatment facilities and training of medical personnel in cancer management overseas.

“Part of the short and long term plan of the Help- to- Heal Foundation is to use the funds raised from the various sources to embark on short and long term goals which include treatment of five cancer children in Egypt, assist in provision of paediatric hospital equipment to hospitals in Lagos State. Others are training of  doctors abroad and building of a modern pediatric oncology hospital in Lagos.”

Main objective of the concert which is part of the Corporate Social Responsibility of the hotel to restore hope to Nigerian children battling with cancer. A cancer survivor, Mr. Frank Ukpabi said treatment in South Africa cost N7.5 million. He called for more treatment support.

Professor of Oncology and Head, Department of Paediatrics, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Prof. Adebola Akinsulie, blamed the poor outcome of cancer treatment in children in Nigeria on late presentation and high cost. He recommended parental education on cancer issues.