When Tasha was just 9 years old, she received a devastating diagnosis of acute myeloid leukaemia - a condition that has a mortality rate of around 90% for children in Africa. With the help of her dedicated grandfather and a specialist medical team, Tasha has been given the opportunity to live a life free from cancer after three years of gruelling treatment.
Sadly, Tasha's story is not unique. Every year in Africa, over 100,000 children will develop cancer, and the vast majority - around 90% - will lose their lives to the disease. The lack of resources, expertise, and access to diagnostics and medications means that many children from lower socioeconomic communities never receive the care they desperately need.
Hearing about Tasha's grandfather's struggle to find the right treatment for his granddaughter was heartbreaking, and it highlighted the many challenges faced by cancer patients in Africa.
The film created for The Texas Children's Hospital Global HOPE in Uganda by the ReWild team and BBC StoryWorks gives a powerful insight into the human experience of childhood cancer in Africa. Watch the film below:
Dr. Anne Akullo, a paediatrician and graduate of the Global HOPE program, played a crucial role in Tasha's care, and she formed a strong bond with the young patient. Dr. Akullo praised Tasha's unwavering optimism and the dedication of her grandfather in caring for her during such a difficult time. It’s quite unusual to see a male caregiver in this setting, let alone a grandfather.
The work being done by Texas Children's Global HOPE to train healthcare workers and provide much-needed resources to underserved communities is truly transformational. In just five years, Global HOPE has built programs in six countries, reaching thousands of children and training thousands of healthcare workers.
The ReWild team is proud to have been a part of creating this film and to shed light on the solutions being implemented to address the pressing challenges facing underserved communities.
News from ReWild Africa:
The team is currently filming for Teachers Plus, an organization working to improve the quality of mathematics education in South African schools.
ReWild is preparing to go on two shoots in Uganda and South Africa to capture the incredible work of eco-enterprises for SEED.
We send our heartfelt birthday wishes to their beloved Mattea, who is a true treasure and a joy to work with.