SUNFLOWER – 2023 Q2
We are delighted to share our second newsletter for 2023 highlighting the ongoing progress of the Sunflower Children's Network.
In the photo above, Dr. Sushma Gurung, the pediatric oncologist at the Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital in Nepal, talks with the father of a young patient in the children's oncology ward.
Photo: Narendra Shrestha/Two Worlds Cancer
Our Vision
The vision of the Sunflower Children’s Network is for all children with serious illnesses, and their families, should have access to the best possible care, which supports their quality of life and relieves their suffering. This Two Worlds Cancer Collaboration (TWCC) initiative 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, focussing on enhancing provision of palliative care.
Read more about Sunflower Children's Network on the website.
Launch of a new virtual training progam in Nepal
In May, we launched a new online training course on Pediatric Palliative Care for nurses and doctors in Nepal. The course consists of weekly online interactive teaching sessions with discussion in virtual small group “breakout rooms”. The program includes an enthusiastic team of faculty from Nepal, India, Kuwait and Canada.
More than 60 participants joined the program’s first session which included an Opening Ceremony with Dr. Yuba Nidhi, Director of Kanti Children’s Hospital in Kathmandu and Dr. Mark Ansermino, Director of the Centre for International Child Health at BC Children’s Hospital, in Vancouver, Canada. This course will be complemented by in-person clinical training in October, when TWCC volunteer doctors and nurses from Vancouver will visit Nepal to provide training and support to local healthcare providers.
Third successful palliative care training program for medical residents from India and Bangladesh
The Sunflower Children’s Network third Advanced Pediatric Palliative Care Training Program for the palliative medicine residents in India and Bangladesh has been completed. More than 45 trainee physicians participated in this year-long virtual program which featured weekly videos and interactive online discussions with international experts. This program is completed with key partners in South Asia, including Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai and the Indian Association of Palliative Care. An article featuring the program was recently published at eHospice .
Coming Soon!
The Sunflower Children’s Network is about to release our first podcast! The first episode of the Sunflower Podcast, hosted by Dr. Megan Doherty, features Dr. Natasha Datoo discussing her work as a physician at Canuck Place Children’s Hospice, in Vancouver, Canada.
The Sunflower Podcast series will engage with clinicians, policy makers and others interested in palliative care, bringing curiosity, humour, and reflection to the world of children’s palliative care – offering discussions on the joys and challenges of palliative care, including education, advocacy, self-care, and leadership.
Follow TWCC on social media (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin) for the release of our first episode, and future episodes in the coming months featuring palliative care clinicians from around the world. The Sunflower Podcast will be available via Spotify and coming soon to twoworldscancer.ca .
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We look forward to sharing more updates later this year and thank you for your continued support of the Sunflower Children’s Network.
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