Mumbai, April 18th, 2023. St Jude India and the Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), a part of Tata Memorial Centre, held the groundbreaking ceremony for their 12-storey building for children suffering from cancer and their families. Located at the ACTREC campus in Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, the 12 story facility will have the capacity to support 226 children undergoing cancer treatment at a time. The centre aims to support and empower over 34,000 cancer-stricken families over a span of 20 years by providing them accommodation, education, shelter, nutrition, skilling, counselling and transport facilities.
Speaking on the occassion, Mr. Nihal Kaviratne CBE, Co-founder, St Jude India ChildCare Centres, said, "The ACTREC campus at Kharghar is exquisitely beautiful. Tranquil, green open spaces, with views of hills which have waterfalls after the monsoon. No better healing place for children undergoing treatment for cancer, who are saved commuting time. St. Judes is grateful to have been entrusted by ACTREC to provide holistic care here to 226 patient families at a time, and to our donors for enabling this."
Dr Sudeep Gupta, Director, ACTREC, said, "The TMC - St Judes Childcare Centre will be crucial to delivering high-quality care to children with cancer and achieving high cure rates."
Housing 226 families at a time, the Navi Mumbai campus will ensure a safe and clean environment for underprivileged families during their child's cancer treatment. It will build an ecosystem for children to overcome the uncertainties of ill health with constant psychological and physical support. The centre will also simultaneously prepare them for a healthier and progressive future with future-ready skillsets.
St. Judes currently operates in nine cities with 40 centres across India, supporting more than 504 families with a ‘home away from home’ for children undergoing cancer treatment. The NGO also partnered with Star Insurance in November 2021 to provide a one-of-a-kind insurance cover of care for children who have recovered from cancer.
