Text and image Edwien Bodjie
Paramaribo – “Healthcare is not only a responsibility of the government or the government, but of all of us. It starts with a healthy lifestyle, but when someone falls ill, we as a government must offer the best care with all available resources. ” This is what President Chandrikapersad Santokhi said on Monday morning in the Auditorium of the Academic Hospital Paramaribo (AZP) during the official transfer of the very first pediatric oncology unit in Suriname. “”
The president finds this a historic milestone in Surinamese health care, since so far there has been no specialized facility for children with cancer. The creation of the pediatric oncology unit is a direct result of the efforts of the Lions Club Paramaribo West (LCPW).
“We can now treat children in Suriname who would otherwise have to be sent abroad”
AZP director Claudia Marica-Redan
The organization appealed to the Japanese embassy, which made a donation of 250,000 US dollars available via Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP). With this amount, a special building was set up on the site of the existing children’s department of the AZP, fully furnished and equipped with all necessary medical equipment.
On March 29, 2022, an agreement was signed between the embassy of Japan and the AZP. During the project there was a continuous cooperation between the AZP, the Lions Club Paramaribo West and the Japanese embassy.
Much needed facility for Suriname
To date, a separate pediatric oncology department was missing in Suriname, so that children with cancer could not receive specialized care in a designated environment. The creation of this unit means that young patients from now on receive the treatment and support they need, in a setting that is tailored to their specific situation.
Director of the Claudia Marica-Redan hospital emphasized the impact of the new facility: “We officially open the only pediatric oncology unit in Suriname. Let it be a place where children find strength and courage to compete against cancer. This is not an easy task, but with the right care and support we can save lives. “
According to her, this unit will not only contribute to better treatments, but also to lower costs for families. “We can now treat children in Suriname who would otherwise have to be sent abroad. This means less financial pressure and more opportunities to intervene on time. “
Government investments
President Santokhi brought in his speech how crucial this development is for the country. He underlined that children with cancer should never be alone and that adequate care and support are essential.
The government has invested sixty million US dollars in health care since she took office. “Yet I hear people say that” Chan is doing nothing, “the president noted, referring to criticism of his policy.
After the formal transfer, guests and the press were given a tour of the new unit. The facility meets international standards.
“The hope is that this development clears the way for further investments and improvements within the health sector, so that every child receives the care it deserves,” says Santokhi. During the ceremony, other prominent people, including Lion Romario Mamatoe, chairman of LCPW, Michiko Makino, Chargé d’Affairs of the Japanese Embassy and Minister Amar Ramadhin of Health.
