Approval of € 1.5 million for the fight against childhood cancer
Article by Yiorgos Georgiou AKEL MEP
10th September 2020
After intense efforts, we managed yesterday to secure the approval by the Committee on Energy, Industry and Research of the European Parliament of an important amendment that we had tabled, asking for 1.5 million Euros to be allocated from the 2021 Community budget, to make use of new technologies and the possibilities of digitization to combat childhood cancer.
However, the combatting of the inequalities that are dominant across the EU regarding access to the early diagnosis and treatment of childhood cancer demands the waging of constant struggle!
As a full member of the new committee that was set up by the European Parliament on cancer, together with the Political Group of the European United Left, we have set the following as our main goals:
– ensuring equal access to cancer prevention, but also treatment,
– increasing the funding for health research to find new and innovative therapies,
– providing financial and psychological support towards families struggling with the incurable disease,
– enhancing the quality of life and promoting the full reintegration of children into society.
September has been established as the golden month of awakening, enlightening and making people aware of childhood cancer. Every year, more than 35,000 children in Europe are diagnosed with cancer and around 6,000 children die, waging an unequal battle. We have a duty and an obligation to put an end to this scourge because childhood cancer can be cured!
Our struggle is not easy but we will continue, so that health ceases to be a privilege of the select few and is secured as a public, social good.
