The Government of Mexico has presented a new social support program linked to the Health sector, directed at families of children with cancer who lack social security. According to Eduardo Clark, Undersecretary of Integration and Development of the Health Secretariat, there are around 3,000 children in the country undergoing treatment for cancer without this support. These children are treated at IMSS-Bienestar and some National Health Institutes.
"It is a new program that excites us a lot for supporting families of children with cancer," commented Clark. It is estimated that a child with leukemia has scheduled hospital visits over a period of up to 18 months, having to attend sometimes weekly at the start of their treatment. Many families, especially those living in remote areas, face transportation costs and work difficulties to accompany their children during treatment.
To address this situation, the Government has announced support of 6,400 pesos bimonthly for the parents, mothers, or guardians of children with cancer. The benefit will be delivered through a card from the Banco del Bienestar, as long as the child is undergoing treatment in a public institution. The distribution of this support will begin in April, after the hospitals carry out a beneficiary registration and the Secretariat of Welfare completes the beneficiary registration process.
The updating process will ensure that children entering treatment in the designated institutions continue to receive this benefit, while those who are not yet registered can access it. The initiative aims to ease the economic burden on families and ensure the continuity of treatment for children with cancer who lack social security.
