SUNFLOWER – 2023 Q1
We are delighted to share our first newsletter for 2023 highlighting the ongoing progress of the Sunflower Children's Network.
To our friends and colleagues celebrating Ramadan, we join with you in a spirit of hope and optimism. And wish you joy and happiness throughout the year.
In the photo above, Dr. Lannie Fofue, a Pediatric Palliative Care Physician at the National Children's Hospital in the Philippines, cares for a patient with cancer on the hospital's palliative care unit. Dr. Fofue is a former fellow of the Sunflower Children's Network Pediatric Palliative Care Fellowship.
Our Vision
The Sunflower Children’s Network supports healthcare professionals at hospitals and other healthcare facilities in South and Southeast Asia to develop high-quality medical care for children with cancer and other serious illnesses. Our vision is for all children with serious illnesses, and their families, is that they have access to the best possible care which supports quality of life and relieves suffering.
In 2015, we started as a regional program focused on supporting children’s palliative care in Hyderabad. Last year, the program expanded to form the Sunflower Children’s Network which currently has regional healthcare centres located in Nepal, Bangladesh, Philippines, and two in India.
Supporting our Philippine fellows
Two Worlds Cancer director Camara van Breemen (fourth from right) and staff at National Children‘s Hospital including former fellows of the Sunflower Children's Network Pediatric Palliative Care Fellowship.
In March, Two Worlds Cancer volunteer Camara van Breemen, a nurse practitioner at Canuck Place Children's Hospice visited our partners at National Children‘s Hospital in Metro Manila. This visit was the first partnership between our Network and Hummingbird House Children‘s Hospice in Brisbane, Australia.
Camara was joined by Australians Dr. Ross Pinkerton and nurse practitioner Kelly Oldham attending ward rounds, visiting children in care at their homes and observing the team led by former fellows of the Sunflower Children's Network Pediatric Palliative Care Fellowship.
Ongoing collaborations and new relationships
The Sunflower Children‘s Network is collaborating with McGill University (Canada) to evaluate the economic impact of children‘s palliative care in Bangladesh.
Our Network is helping connect organizations through shared interests – the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University team in Dhaka, Bangladesh is partnering with the Umduduzi Program in Durban, South Africa to share mutual knowledge and experiences with both their children‘s palliative home-care programs.
Through our Network, the University of Ottawa (Canada) is partnering with National Children‘s Hospital (Philippines) for a Medical Education short course.
And our Network‘s latest collaboration is with St. Jude Children‘s Research Hospital – a leading international pediatric clinical, teaching and research hospital in the United States.
Visiting India‘s earliest pediatric hospital
Dr. Megan Doherty (third from left), Sunflower Children’s Network palliative care director, with staff at BJ Wadia Hospital for Children in Mumbai.
In February, Dr. Doherty visited BJ Wadia Hospital for Children in Mumbai. The hospital was the first pediatric hospital in India established in 1929. She participated in patient rounds and facilitated a Serious Illness Conversation Guide (SICG) training workshop. SICG is a specialized communication tool that helps healthcare providers effectively communicate with families about their child‘s condition and prognosis, and to plan for future medical care.
SICG training has been used in India since 2018, with translations available in Hindi and Telugu . Please visit this link to Dr. Doherty's eHospice article Teamwork and Laughter
Our fellowship program
In January, a graduation and welcome ceremony for the 2022 graduating fellows the arriving 2023 fellows was held virtually with 60 participants including Two Worlds Cancer Collaboration directors, program leads, our Sunflower Children‘s Network volunteer faculty and family members supporting the fellows.
Introducing the 2023 fellows
Three fellows have joined the program this year from Nepal, Philippines and Bangladesh. This is the second year of the Sunflower Children's Network Pediatric Palliative Care Fellowship:
Dr. Biplav Ghimire completed his MBBS from Manipal College of Medical Sciences in Pokhara, Nepal and his MD Pediatrics at National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS), Kanti Children`s Hospital in Kathmandu.
In Nepal, there is lack of dedicated pediatric palliative care services in hospitals. Doctors focus on medical treatment only and often pain relief, home care and bereavement are ignored. Biplav is motivated by his desire to ease suffering for children and their families as children reach end of life.
Dr. Leicel D. Goyena has a Bachelor‘s degree in Social Science (Behavioral Studies), from the University of the Philippines. Her Post Graduate Internship was at Victoriano Luna Medical Center. Leicel completed her Pediatric Residency Training with the National Children‘s Hospital (NCH).
Leicel saw the opportunity to be part of the pediatiric palliative care team at NCH as it was starting. During the surge of the COVID-19 pandemic, she witnessed the deaths of many children due to lack of awareness, and late diagnosis and treatment – often with limited psychosocial support for the families. In the future she hopes to bring children‘s palliative care to the province where she was born.
Dr. Md. Shaidur Rahman completed his MBBS from Rangpur Medical College and his MD (Pediatrics) from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Shaidur became involved in pediatric palliative care when he worked as a registrar at the Department of Pediatric Hematology & Oncology. He experienced the power and compassion of palliative medicine in not only providing compassionate care but also bringing individuals together.
After work, Shaidur likes reading and watching movies. He participates in cultural activities at the hospital and is involved in charity work mentoring youth and helping vulnerable groups.
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We look forward to sharing our 2023 updates with you and thank you for your continued support of the Sunflower Children’s Network – a Two Worlds Cancer Collaboration initiative. Please join Two World's Cancer Collaboration's social media for news and updates.
Sincerely,
Dr. Megan Doherty
Pediatric Palliative Director
Sunflower Children's Network
Two Worlds Cancer Collaboration
Dr. Stuart Brown
Paliiative Care Specialist
Director
Two Worlds Cancer Collaboration
Rizwana Hussain
Programs & Project Manager
Sunflower Children's Network
Two Worlds Cancer Collaboration