Description
The average cure rate for child cancer in Europe is 80%. Despite of the available technology survival rates in Romania are estimated to less than 60%. The main reason for the gap in chances is the lack of appropriate policies. The project goal is to increase the participation capacity of the civil society to shaping child cancer policies in Romania through the development of an NGO Coalition with enhanced abilities for communication, advocacy and organizational management. The project will ultimately contribute improving survival chances and quality of life for children with cancer, by optimizing policies and promoting alignment to European Standards. The project meets the needs for improvement in public participation of the child welfare NGO sector and provides the opportunity for the practical experience of strategic planning, policy diagnosis and formulation and a variety of advocacy activities. Direct beneficiaries are the 14 NGOs of the Coalition, from all over the country, who will be offered training and technical assistance and other relevant audiences (professionals, community members and policy makers) exposed to project activities and outputs.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to increase the participation capacity of the civil society to shape policies for children with cancer in Romania through the development of an NGO Coalition with enhanced abilities for communication, advocacy and organizational management. The ultimate project goal was to contribute to improve survival chances and quality of life for children with cancer, by optimizing policies and promoting alignment to European Standards. In spring 2015, 17 NGOs involved in childhood cancer support and child health from eight cities had joined the informal Coalition. An advocacy campaign was initiated and succeeded to amend the National Cancer Program in order to include a specific subprogram dedicated to paediatric oncology and thus ensuring access to the needed tests and therapies to all children and young people with cancer, as well as to address the staffing crisis in paediatric oncology clinics. The advocacy process was supported by a position document which was disseminated in a variety of communication and visibility activities with a whole array of audiences: policy makers, health and social welfare professionals, NGOs, media. In addition, the changes needed were documented by a professional epidemiologic study on child cancer morbidity and survival (the first in Romania) as well as by extensive data collection and consultation with health professionals and NGOs involved in the support of children and adolescents with cancer. In order to further support the cause and build on the current achievement, the Coalition members met and decided to increase integration and enhance governance by making the step to the next level and transform the informal association into a legal entity with a stronger voice, improved internal cohesion and enhanced capability to act as an advocate for the child cancer cause. The Federation named the “Coalition for the Cause of Children and Young People with Cancer” was founded by 13 NGOs in April 2016.
Summary of bilateral results