Noida: A patient-support facility offering free accommodation, meals, psychosocial care, and transport assistance for children undergoing cancer treatment and bone marrow transplantation (BMT) and their caregivers was inaugurated near Post Graduate Institute of Child Health.The centre, named Home Away from Home, is located about 800 metres from the hospital in Sector 31 and aims to assist families travelling long distances for prolonged treatment.Developed by NGO Access Life in collaboration with the institute, the facility seeks to address logistical and financial challenges faced by families of paediatric oncology patients. “More than 80% of children receiving cancer and BMT care at the institute travel from beyond 100 km, often requiring extended stays near the hospital,” a senior doctor at the institute said.The facility will be free of cost for the Child PGI patients and will be run by the NGO. The 14-room centre provides accommodation for children and their caregivers, along with meals and access to a shared kitchen stocked with essential rations. The facility will offer the services of a trained teacher, counsellor, and a full-time coordinator to help families navigate treatment schedules and related needs. A dedicated vehicle for patient transport between the facility and the hospital has also been arranged, officials said.Director of Child PGI, Dr AK Singh said, “The initiative aims to reduce treatment interruptions caused by accommodation issues and improve the outcome. The model integrates non-medical support such as nutrition, counselling, and logistical assistance, which doctors say play a crucial role in long-term cancer care, particularly for economically weaker families.”The facility was inaugurated by Dr Singh in the presence of chief medical superintendent Dr Mukul Jain, Dr Jyotsna Madan, head of pathology, and Dr Nita Radhakrishnan, head of paediatric haematology-oncology, along with representatives from Access Life.Among the first beneficiaries is Naitik, an eight-year-old post-BMT patient from Pratapgarh diagnosed with relapsed myeloid leukaemia, who is expected to shift to the facility.
