RIYADH — As many as 472 children of unaffordable expatriates, diagnosed with cancer, have so far benefited from the support of Sanad Children's Cancer Support Association, according to Reem Al-Hujailan, director-general of the association. "These children's families were unable to pay the costs of treatment and hence the association provided the support in terms of covering the costs of their treatment in government hospitals and some private hospitals in the Kingdom," she said in a statement issued on the occasion of the World Children's Day 2020, which falls on Nov. 20. Al-Hujailan said that the association's cancer treatment program also includes bone marrow transplant services after its board of directors approved a number of marrow transplant cases. "The number of beneficiaries of the treatment program, ever since the launch of the association's transplant and treatment programs, exceeded 472 children, who belonged to 20 countries. These children suffered from 29 different types of cancer," she said. According to a press statement of the association, its program for the treatment of expatriate children suffering from cancer is part of efforts to achieve the goals of the Kingdom's ambitious Vision 2030 under which Saudi citizens are responsible for supporting and helping the needy expatriates. The program also comes in fulfillment of UNICEF's aspirations to take action for the rights of the child on World Children's Day, celebrated on Nov. 20 each year, to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide and improve children's welfare. Sanad's programs to support children with cancer include the provision of education to children at oncology centers, as well as the moral and psychological support program for patients and their parents, in addition to programs for social service, housing, and financial aid. It is noteworthy that the association supports six bodies for the treatment of cancer and these include cancer centers and hospitals in the Kingdom. The association has also supported 41 specialized types of research in the treatment of childhood cancer since the beginning of the Sanad Program for Scientific Research in 2008, and the value of support amounted to more than SR8 million. It is noteworthy that the Sanad Charitable Association was registered with the Ministry of Social Affairs on Feb. 2, 2003, as a non-profitable charity society. Its aim is to support centers for children with cancer that need financial support. The association provides social and shelter services to the patients and their needy families after conducting the field research as well as prepares educative and learning programs for patients and their families about cancer among children and how to deal with it. The beneficiaries of its support include expatriate children from countries such as Niger, Syria, the Philippines, Yemen, Sudan, Egypt, Palestine, Mali, Bangladesh, Jordan, Pakistan, Eritrea, Myanmar, Mauritania, Morocco, Ethiopia, Algeria, Afghanistan, and South Africa.
