On Monday last, Luxembourg's Minister of Health, Lydia Mutsch, visited the premises of Fondatioun Kriibskrank Kanner in Strassen on the occasion of the International Day against Cancer of the Child.
At the event, Claude Meiers, President of the Fondation Kriibskrank Kanner, and Anne Goeres, Director of Fondation Kriibskrank Kanner, presented an overview of the activities of the foundation during 2015 and their plans for the foundation in 2016.
Minister Lydia Mutsch acknowledged that, each year, 30-40 children and teenagers are diagnosed with cancer, with 100-110 young patients at any one time seeking cancer treatment. She thanked the foundation for the part it plays in providing support and guidance to young cancer patients and their families, whether they are in hospital, pallitative care (around 8-10 annually) or at home.
She revealed that, as part of the National Cancer Plan, in the coming months the CHL's Kannerklinik will finalise a plan to provide a pediatric service with the necessary infrastructure, equipment and expertise, which is expected to open in 2018. She stressed the role that the foundation plays in collaboration with international reference centres and professionals; currently such child cancer patients in Luxembourg need to go abroad to a choice of around 40 such centres. Despite the quality of care there, there are issues of travel and accommodation to be considered for chemotherapy and other treatments, with emergencies and hospitalisations presenting other challenges for the families too.
Photo by MISAN (L-R): Anne Goeres, Director of Fondation Kriibskrank Kanner; Lydia Mutsch, Minister of Health; Claude Meiers, President of the Fondation Kriibskrank Kanner
