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Paediatric Radiation Oncology Society's Statement on Ukraine

Posted by Géraldine Bezamat | March 08, 2022 - 10:23

 

 

Dear Colleagues, 

 

We are heartbroken by the violence and devastation caused by war in Ukraine. The international Pediatric Radiation Oncology Society (PROS) is joining the world community in condemning the killing of civilians, including children.  We are hearing the devastating stories from our colleagues that children with cancer from all over Ukraine are hiding in basements, hospitals and medical convoys are bombed, hospital are running out of critical supplies, medical staff is working tirelessly in  life-threatening conditions, and as a result, children and adolescent with cancer are not receiving life-saving treatments, including radiotherapy. 

 

Several radiotherapy centers in Europe and elsewhere have been asked to  help and some have already accepted children for radiation treatments. We anticipate that there will be additional need for medical assistance in coming days and months, both within Ukraine and in places where refugees find shelter.   

 

PROS is working with the International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP), International Society of Pediatric Surgical Oncology (IPSO), Childhood Cancer International (CCI), St. Jude Global and other stakeholders to find the ways we can coordinate our assistance to children from Ukraine.  

 

To every colleague and friend who has devoted their career to the welfare of children, PROS encourages you to address this humanitarian crisis by volunteering your time to provide concrete support for children from Ukraine. In your professional capacity, this may involve advocating for radiotherapy access or drawing attention to the double tragedy that is childhood cancer amidst war. For those who are directly impacted, please let us know about your needs so we can engage partner organizations and stakeholders. PROS has worldwide contacts who share similar values. We may be able to assist your young patients, who confront enduring hardship from this senseless war. We attribute cancer in children to cruel fate. We attribute war on children to cruel men.

 

Please find also here after SIOP Statement on Ukraine: link. 

Thank you, 

 

Natia Esiashvili 

President of PROS

On behalf of the PROS Executive Committee