Child Cancer Care
Cancer Support for Zimbabwean Children and their Families
The Rainbow Children's Village strives to lower the mortality rate of childhood cancer patients in Zimbabwe by providing a home away from home for children and their families to recuperate after treatment, before making the long journey back home. Major challenges that childhood cancer patients and their families face include traveling expenses to and from rural areas to cities for treatment, the high cost of living in cities with treatment facilities, the health system’s low capacity, hospital fees, medical treatment fees, and medication costs. Financial limitations force caregivers to make difficult decisions about their children's health needs. What tends to happen is caregivers either avoid an extended stay in the city and return home directly after treatment while the child's immune system is still compromised or choose to opt out of seeking treatment entirely.
Cancer is a leading cause of death for children and adolescents, particularly in low-income countries. The likelihood of a child surviving a cancer diagnosis depends on the country in which they live — in Harare, an estimated 1 in 2 childhood cancer patients die within one year of diagnosis. The Zimbabwean healthcare system's low capacity, high treatment and post-treatment-care costs, limited treatment centers, and traveling far distances for treatment are factors that contribute to the low childhood cancer survival rate in Zimbabwe. The inspiration behind the Children's Rainbow Village is to provide a safe, clean, and free-of-charge living alternative for childhood cancer patients and their families to recuperate after receiving treatment before traveling back home.
“Children from disadvantaged backgrounds, particularly those living in the outer areas of Harare and rural areas of Zimbabwe, are at risk of becoming a mortality statistic.”
— The Rainbow Children’s Villagea
What Makes the Rainbow Children’s Village Different
1.
Architectural design mimics the rainbow and draws from a child-like playfulness with bouncing roof heights. Bright colors inspire creativity and lift spirits.
Fun spiral design and colors
2.
The village is fully outfitted with amenities and services including gardens, a dining hall, individual suits and bathrooms, and a public leisure area.
Essential amenities included
3.
Multiple safe, structured gardens inspire outdoor play, promote mental well-being, and provide space for cultivating and growing organic vegetables.
Structured gardens for play
4.
An on-site doctor, nurses, and aids help provide specialized after-care and monitoring as patients recuperate after treatment before traveling home.
In-house caregivers
5.
Roof overhangs protect from rain ingress and direct sunlight to increase passive cooling. The rooms are well-ventilated and open for natural light to stream in.
Eco-conscious design
6.
The Village provides a safe, clean, and holistic atmosphere for childhood cancer patients and their caregivers to recuperate after cancer treatment.
Clean and holistic boarding
A Wholesome Mission
Igniting Hope in Children Facing Cancer
The Rainbow Children’s Village strives to lower the mortality rate of children with cancer in Zimbabwe by providing children and their families from disadvantaged backgrounds with a tranquil, clean environment that helps the children recuperate after cancer treatment before making the journey back home.How DTCare Hopes to Help
Since our founding and official incorporation in 2019, DTCare has shipped more than 35 shipments of humanitarian aid to four continents for communities affected by disaster, conflict, and poverty.
The Rainbow Children’s Village relies on charitable donations of monies and supplies to complete the building of all three phases, and provide housing, care, and nutritious meals for childhood cancer patients and their caregivers. DTCare aims to aid the Rainbow Children’s Village mission by collecting and sending critically needed supplies to aid underprivileged children and their families face cancer.
Resources
See the resources below for more information: