The Torrecárdenas University Hospital in Almería, part of the Andalusian Health Service (SAS), has renewed its participation in the ‘Light Up Hope’ campaign by installing a golden ribbon at the entrance of the Princesa Leonor Materno Infantil Hospital. This initiative, promoted by the Argar Association of Parents of Children and Adolescents with Cancer, aligns with the European proposal to dedicate September to raising awareness about this disease.
The event was attended by the delegate of the Government of the Junta de Andalucía, Francisco Góngora; the territorial delegate of Health and Consumption, Juan de la Cruz Belmonte; the deputy general manager of the Torrecárdenas University Hospital, Felipe Cañadas, along with the management team; and the president of Argar Almería, Rosa Onieva. The day's main protagonist was Carmen, a cancer patient who shared her daily life, activities, and the classes she receives.
Góngora emphasized that “with this golden ribbon… we light up the hope of all those families who have to go through such difficult times”. He highlighted the importance of “guaranteeing the absolute right to continuous and quality education for affected minors” and reaffirmed the Junta de Andalucía's commitment to “continue providing specialized resources to our health system and offer comprehensive and permanent support”.
Felipe Cañadas, deputy general manager, expressed the hospital's support “to all children suffering from this disease, as well as their families”. He recalled that the Pediatric Oncohematology Service “maintains stable care activity, with over twenty new cases each year”, and detailed that care includes treatments and diagnostic procedures, describing the approach as “multidisciplinary and fundamental”.
Cañadas also highlighted the constant collaboration with the Argar Association at the Materno Infantil, which allows for “better care and improved quality of life for children with cancer”.
Rosa Onieva, president of the Argar Association, explained that this year's campaign focuses on how communication can convey support and hope. She reminded that childhood cancer is a reality and that “there is much to achieve and fight for”.
The most frequent pathologies at the Princesa Leonor Materno Infantil involve tumors of the central nervous system, leukemias, and lymphomas, accounting for nearly 70% of cases. The hospital maintains coordination with the Regional University Hospital of Málaga.
The oncology ward of the Materno Infantil Hospital has 16 individual rooms, equipped and decorated thanks to Argar's collaboration. Five of these are for adolescent patients, with a leisure room. Two rooms with positive pressure are for immunocompromised patients.
Care is provided by pediatricians specialized in pediatric oncohematology and specific nursing staff. A multidisciplinary team, including radiologists, pathologists, pediatric surgeons, and palliative care specialists, forms the pediatric tumor committee. The school classroom is staffed by two teachers, in addition to support from Argar association professionals.
