Bless a Child Foundation (BCF) provides care and support services to children aged 0-15 years suffering from cancer and related infections by providing care homes located near the main treatment centers. BCF’s three homes can accommodate 90 families struggling with inequitable access to medical and social care.
Why Their Work Matters
BCF was founded in response to the specific needs of pediatric cancer patients in Uganda, many of whom experienced abandonment of treatment due to poor access to specialized pediatric oncology treatment centers and supportive care, diagnostic centers, drugs, trained human resources, and social support. Treatment abandonment is one of the major factors for low survival rates, and BCF is committed to saving the lives of children by giving parents a chance to fight for their health.
- Each year, more than 100 children and their caregivers are housed in BCF facilities, which have been shown to reduce the abandonment of treatment by alleviating the financial burden. After the opening of one of their shelters in 2020, treatment abandonment fell from 30% to 9%.
- The BCF homes have served more than 6,000 children since 2010.
BCF is eliminating barriers to treatment for children with cancer to ensure the children complete their treatment and providing support and training to to caregivers so that they leave with income-generating skills.
BCF targets children from economically disadvantaged families, most of whom have to travel long distances from remote, rural areas to the treatment centers. Multidimensional services like nutrition, remedial education, and counseling remove the financial burden from families so that they can focus on the treatment of their sick child.
Brian Walusimbi
Brian Walusimbi is the founder and executive director of the Bless a Child Foundation. Brian founded BCF in 2007 after learning that pediatric cancer patients in Uganda had inadequate access to medical care and support. From then on, he sought to support children with cancer and their families. The BCF team is comprised of talented individuals who work tirelessly to give a memorable experience to the children and their caregivers at the BCF Homes.
Brian is also the founder of Fun House Creations, an entertainment company that provides party services for children and corporate organizations. At Fun House, Brian works as a clown, bringing cheer and laughter to people at different corporate events.
