Nutritionists trained to handle cancer children’s needs

Initiative supported by UNICEF, TMH

In a first-of-its-kind initiative, non-governmental organisation (NGO) Cuddles Foundation, supported by UNICEF and Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH), held a week-long training programme for 30 nutritionists from across the country to handle requirements for children afflicted with cancer.

Cuddles Foundation focuses on providing holistic nutrition to children with cancer. The all-women NGO works in nine cities and 17 hospitals across the country. The nutritionists who were trained are involved with Cuddles Foundation.

“We felt the need to empower our nutritionists as they are working with severely malnourished children. Handling nutrition requirements for children afflicted with cancer is a very specialised topic,” said Nikita Mahakal, Head Paediatric Nutritionist, Cuddles Foundation.

Oncologists and nutritionists from all over the country trained the nutritionists, beginning Monday. “They were taught about types of cancer in children and managing SAM (severe acute malnourishment) among a range of topics,” said Ms. Mahakal. The nutritionists said they felt better equipped to deal with patients, post-training. “I handle treatment for approximately 500 kids a year. For these kids, good nutrition is the foremost thing because it builds the immunity for various therapies,” said Divya Mahajan, a nutritionist with PGIMER, Chandigarh. “After this training, I'll be able to make my patients more comfortable.”

‘100% perfection’

Sana Khalid, a nutritionist with St. John’s Hospital, Bengaluru, said she learnt how to go about the treatment in a more systematic manner, with 100% perfection. “We got to meet the kids at the TMH paediatric oncology ward. We got hands-on training by treating them, and they were also very excited to see so many girls around, which was fun,” said Ms. Khalid.

Mansi Kumat, a Pune-based nutritionist, said professionals in her field come across a lot of patients with bone cancer and acute lymphoid leukemia. Such patients need to be fed through the blood. “I got to learn about this,” she said.

Ms. Mahakal said work on the training began last October, and a syllabus was formulated with the help of experts in the field. The NGO then sent the proposal to UNICEF in mid-February. “As this is a unique training programme happening for the first time in India, they were happy to contribute to the event,” she said. While Tata Memorial offered the space for the programme, UNICEF funded it.