An integrated community-based detection and treatment referral campaign for leukemia and retinoblastoma in childhood was supported by the UICC My Child Matters project in Indonesia . 

In Indonesia, with a population of 220 millions, the incident of childhood cancer is about 11,000 new patients per year. Leukemia and retinoblastoma are found to be the two major causes of mortality among children with cancer. As parents mostly consider the diagnosis of cancer a ‘death sentence’, they often refuse treatment or do not bring their children to the hospital at an early stage. Lack of information about childhood cancer in the general public also causes numerous problems.

Thus the Indonesian Childhood Cancer Foundation (YOAI – Yayasan Onkologi Anak Indonesia) as member of ICCCPO, designed with the grant of the UICC-project My Child Matters a program for early detection of childhood cancer and a system of treatment referral.

The project was created to achieve the following objectives:

1.  Information on leukemia and retinoblastoma for -parents and patients

2. Increased knowledge about theses diseases among health care providers

3. Improved community care and support for parents and their children with cancer.

It is done at 10 participating poor communities and 10 participating community health centers in Jakarta.

Our Aims

Within a five-year time frame, it is envisioned to have the following path:

Year 2:

More participating partners, mostly companies.

More participating areas in other poor community throughout Jakarta.

Piloting poor communities in other big cities in Indonesia (possibly in Medan, Surabaya, Bandung)

Year 3 and Year 4:

Striving to get a National Strategic Plan for the treatment of cancer in accordance with the model.

Year 5:

Striving to get the national budget for the treatment of cancer increased.

We are grateful to have been allocated this fund which has given us more awareness in the community and also made fund raising for our organization easier.

Lastri Krisnarto
Yayasan Onkologi Anak, Indonesia
lastri_krisnarto@yahoo.co.id