Members of SpeakGuru Foundation painting images of cartoon characters on the walls to brighten the mood in the Oncology Unit at NHAK.
Vishü Rita Krocha
Kohima | September 21
The sight of bald children during a visit to the Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK) over a decade ago deeply moved Kenei Kuotsu’s heart to do something for children with cancer. These kids who were from remote villages of Nagaland were being treated for leukemia, and being unable to afford all the cycles of chemotherapy, most of them go back to their villages after one cycle and do not return for the next.
“It struck me that these are not because of self-induced reasons. These kids are so innocent and they probably don’t even know that they have this”, he recalls in an exclusive interview with The Morung Express on the eve of World Rose Day that falls on September 22.
World Rose Day – Welfare of Cancer Patients is observed in memory of 12-year-old Melinda Rose from Canada, who was diagnosed with Askin’s Tumour, a rare form of Blood Cancer.
“The saddest thing is they come for the first cycle but because they can’t pay for the next cycle, they don’t come back, and some of them pass away in the process”, Kenei Kuotsu says. His encounter with the bald kids at the hospital inspired him to start SpeakGuru Foundation in the year 2010, primarily to support and strengthen children and their families who are suffering from cancer.
Recognising that the unfortunate reality of cancer involves costly treatments, SpeakGuru Foundation has helped over 15 children living with cancer by paying for their medicines and chemo cycles. With special focus on needy families, the Foundation also endeavors to ensure that every child unable to receive adequate cancer treatment, have access to the Foundation’s facilities including financial, emotional and spiritual support.
“There is one small wing in the hospital, and we really wanted to do something here to cheer them up”, Kuotsu recollects. They painted the walls with superhero characters to brighten their mood, and also provided a television set so that they can watch movies. “We wanted to bring fun to that place”, he adds while impressing upon that entertainment helps control the pain since the attention is diverted then.
“To be mentally resilient is very important while undergoing chemotherapy. You hear from adults how painful it is, just imagine that happening to 4-5 year old kids”, he further expresses. Kuotsu who is currently based out of Singapore as Financial Services Manager, has been participating in fund raising activities for cancer and at one point of time, also shaved his head to support the cause.
Through other such events, he has also been able to raise funds for the Foundation to support children with cancer here in Nagaland. “I wish we can do more for these kids. Let’s work together, join hands together because they need us. They are not in this situation because they wanted to, so if we can help them in some ways, and they recover, that’s the best thing”, he puts across.
To children with cancer, he says, “continue your chemo, we will help as much as we can.”
In the past, SpeakGuru Foundation also initiated a ‘Hair Cutting Campaign’ in 2014 to support children afflicted with cancer. The event under the banner ‘Hair for Hope’ carried a key message to tell little children that it is perfectly okay to be bald. Besides this, it also organized an event called ‘Music Against Cancer’ to raise funds for children with cancer.
“There are three things that we want to do through the Foundation— help those children living with cancer, preserve our flora and fauna, and empower children’s education by way of providing resources to those schools in the villages in the form of a computer, or any other resources that can help them”, Kuotsu highlights.
As a strong advocate of conservation, he tells beneficiaries of the Foundation who want to show their gratitude- “since you are a recipient, if you want to do something, plant a tree for us, that would be like the biggest ‘Thank You’ for me.”
In the year 2017, the Foundation also donated a state-of-the-art incubator to the Blyths Tragopan Conservation and Breeding Centre Kohima along with an inverter.
