Health Ministry Urges Citizens To ‘Go Gold’ For Childhood Cancer

The Ministry of Health, Wellness, and Elderly Affairs is calling on the public to wear gold on Tuesday, September 17th, 2024, as part of the “Go Gold” initiative in observance of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The objective is to raise awareness of the disparities in childhood cancer care, particularly the challenges faced by children in low and middle-income countries. According to a Health Ministry press release, this year’s theme, ‘Reducing the Survival Gap’, focuses on raising awareness about the global inequalities faced by children with cancer, particularly in countries like Saint Lucia, where survival rates remain significantly lower compared to high-income nations. The “Go Gold” initiative will emphasise the urgent need for collaboration and action to address these disparities, ensuring that all children, regardless of where they live, have access to quality cancer care and treatment. One of the cancers that occurs in infants and young children is Neuroblastoma, which starts in certain very early forms of nerve cells, most often in an embryo or fetus. In a testimonial video shared by the Ministry of Health, Melissa Rivers, a mother who lost her child due to Neuroblastoma, recounted her experience. “The first signs and symptoms would be a persistent low...