Medical director and pediatric oncologist Rob Pieters says: 'After the bombing of the children's hospital in Kiev, the continuity of care for children with cancer there is under great pressure. And when it comes to cancer treatment, there is no time to lose. The Princess Máxima Center continues to help. Through contacts with the Global Network Organization for Childhood Cancer, the International Association of Patient Organizations and the Supporting Action For Emergency Response (SAFER) network. This network coordinates the care of Ukrainian children with cancer within Europe.’ The Máxima Center has an International Patient Office that organizes the arrival and stay of the Ukrainian children.
Crucial role for interpreters
‘Immediately after the bombing on the children's hospital in Kiev, international consultations began to see how we could help,' explains manager care Linda de Koning. ‘Continuity of care for children with cancer is very important. At the time of the attack, 135 children were there for oncological treatment. This week three children are coming. Another child is not yet fit enough to fly and needs to recover before he can come to us.’ In caring for previous Ukrainian families, the Máxima Center has found that interpreters play a crucial role. So interpreters help with communication from the moment the new children and their families arrive.
Relief action since March 2022
Because of the war in Ukraine, the Princess Máxima Center launched a relief operation in March 2022. Two relief flights brought a total of 52 children to the Netherlands. In the following period, children with cancer also travelled to Utrecht themselves, often with their mothers or parents. Since then, a total of 121 children have been treated at the Máxima Center. Some of the children have returned to Ukraine. Six children have died. Others have been hospitalized for long periods, for example for stem cell transplants. The vast majority of the children are in day care or aftercare and therefore remain in the Netherlands.
