“Families often come having taken a loan, putting their land up as collateral”. This is the unthinkable sacrifice parents are forced to make just to begin treating their child’s cancer. The devastating financial collapse is matched only by the emotional toll. CanKids founder Poonam Bagai reminds us that during this ordeal, the child’s youth is stolen, making the Right to Childhood a crucial goal. Our mission is to intervene at this breaking point, ensuring that when parents are “putting their land up as collateral”, we provide the support to save both the child’s life and the family’s dignity. Click the link to support Poonam in her mission.
The alarming reality
In India, Childhood Cancer is a reality that shatters nearly 50,000 families every year. Unlike high-income countries where over 80% of children are cured, less than 30% are cured in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This stark difference is not due to a lack of treatability, but a lack of support.
Poonam Bagai, a cancer survivor herself, speaks about this devastating inequity, stating, “Why should where you are born decide whether you will survive or not?” This foundational belief drives the mission of CanKids KidsCan, an organisation that is transforming the landscape of pediatric Cancer care in India.
The crippling barriers to treatment
For a parent facing a child’s cancer diagnosis, the immediate shock is overwhelming: “When a doctor tells a family… your child has cancer, I think perhaps the mind shuts down after the letter ‘C’.” This emotional devastation is quickly followed by the terrifying realisation of the cost and complexity of the journey.
Poonam highlights the key barriers CanKids is built to overcome:
The deadly delays: The most shocking barrier is the time lost before treatment. While a family might reach a doctor quickly, the median time for timely diagnosis is 37 days. Poonam explains that often, a child will go to multiple facilities, “Sometimes a child of ours went to 23 hospitals, so how much was the diagnostic delay?”. This delay is lethal.
The financial trap: Cancer treatment costs in many hospitals can range from ₹3 to ₹5 lakh, an impossible amount for families not covered by government schemes. The founder confirms the dire outcome: “If you don’t have the funds… you will just leave. And by the time you save up some money, take a loan, and then come back, it can be too late.”
The total family breakdown: The disease is not contained to the child. Poonam stresses, “Fathers have to quit their jobs. Sometimes the mother stays with the other children, and the father leaves his job and livelihood and comes”. Even the child’s well-being suffers beyond the physical: “I went into depression. People say 50% of people with cancer also get depressed. I was in that 50%”.
CanKids’ fight to save every child with cancer
CanKids KidsCan is one of the leading NGOs in India dedicated to providing holistic care (defined as patient-centered care covering infrastructure, staff, medicine, accommodation, and psycho-social support) to children fighting cancer.
The NGO’s work spans the entire patient journey:
Ensuring access and immediate care: CanKids addresses the financial hurdle immediately. At hospitals like Tata Memorial, they provide Emergency Medical Assistance (EMA) for tests, even before cancer is confirmed, preventing fatal delays. They also arrange blood support because “if blood is not received in time, the child’s cancer treatment can be stopped, or the child can bleed to death.”
The circle of care: “We call that bond ‘You Are Not Alone.’ We will hold your hand, and we will stay with you throughout this journey.” The organisation trains parents who have already navigated the journey, whether their child survived or not, to become Patient Navigators, offering invaluable support. This Circle of Care is essential because “if the family or the people stay together, we can complete this journey a little better, with more ease.”
The right to childhood: The trauma of treatment is addressed through support for normal life. “The Right to Childhood is very important for CanKids, because this is a child who loses their childhood… due to treatment.” This includes providing teachers and scholarships so no year of education is lost, and running Home Away From Homes where children can play and celebrate life, reinforcing that “every child deserves Best Treatment, Best Care, and Best Support. Yet, the ultimate goal remains distant: reaching the WHO target of 100% access and 100% financial protection by 2030.
Poonam is clear about the organisation’s current challenge: “If our funds fall short, we can neither grow nor expand, nor can we reach every child.” While government schemes exist, NGOs like CanKids are vital for filling the gap-funding and ensuring the quality of care that prevents treatment abandonment.
Donate to CanKids KidsCan one of the foremost NGOs in India to become a vital part of this fight against cancer.
Choosing to tread the proverbial road less travelled, Ramon embarked upon a career in journalism and spent over 8 years working for various media organisations. A deeper calling to create a sustainable impact in the lives of the less fortunate compelled him to join the social sector. Ramon is a minimalist at heart and an explorer in spirit.
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