ImPaCCT Foundation

ImPaCCT Foundation", an acronym for "Improving Paediatric Cancer Care and Treatment", is the Paediatric Foundation of Tata Memorial hospital. Tata Mem Read moreorial Hospital (TMH) treats more than 60,000 cancer patients annually, of which 2000 are children.The Foundation was established to work towards the goal that every child with cancer at Tata Memorial Hospital receives the best care possible regardless of family background or financial restraints. The Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the research done on child cancer, improving treatment, and raising the level of education on child cancer. ImPaCCt Foundation works to provide holistic support to patients and their families by providing not only treatment but also economic support, pre- and post-treatment medical support, and psychological support. It covers all financial costs of the treatment and helps find free accommodation for families who have come from other cities. The Foundation also provides various types of medical support. It assists in finding blood donors for patients. In addition, in order to reduce the chances of complications due to infection and increase the chances of a cure, the foundation provides hygiene kits to each child and funds the salary of an infection-control nurse and physician to help prevent infection. It also ensures each child is supported nutritionally by providing free protein and calorie-rich supplements. Additionally, the Foundation provides non-formal education to the children during their treatment. After treatment, it offers vocational training and rehabilitation services to the survivors of childhood cancer. During treatment, it also helps parents learn job skills, get employed in various organizations, and find accommodation. The organization provides a dedicated pediatric psychologist to provide psychological support and offer counseling to each patient and his or her family. This also helps motivate families to take treatment, which has reduced the rate of treatment refusal and abandonment from 20% in 2009 to almost 5%. In order to boost the children's morale, the Foundation hosts various activities. In addition to celebrating each child's birthday, it also hosts an annual event "Hope" on Childhood Cancer Day to celebrate life and inspire the children. Additionally, the Foundation hosts creative workshops for the children to express their talent and emotions. In order to help the children have some fun during their treatment, the Foundation conducts various outings such as joyrides, movies, and picnics, and strives to fulfill one of each child's wishes. Besides directly helping patients and their families, it engages in improving childhood cancer research in India in order to develop a cure. In addition, it works on educating people about the possibility of childhood cancer to be cured and about available treatment in India. It also aims to educate and train pediatricians across India regarding the treatment of childhood cancer.