Hilary Robertson-Hickling

While searching for information about the recent death of Yolanda King the daughter of Martin Luther King and Coretta Scott King, I read about the concept of survivorship which has meanings in law and of course in relation to trauma and chronic illness. Ms. King's life as an actress and activist for civil rights reminded me of the legacy of that family to the world.

She died just over a year after her mother and I recognized that many persons of our generation have our own health concerns as well as those of our ageing parents. In fact in this Child Month we must remember adult children caring for their parents as well as the young ones who now care for parents afflicted with HIV/Aids.

The infrastructure for care is slowly growing as many more people are able to survive for longer periods while they suffer from chronic diseases. Some hospitals overseas as well as foundations such as that one established by Lance Armstrong winner of the Tour de France and himself a cancer survivor have been established.

The work of the Heart Foundation, The Cancer Society and many other organisations are doing an excellent job but that work must be expanded. There is expected to be a shortageof oncologists in the United States within the next decade and we also need all of the professional and para-professional groups which provide the necessary care. There are increasing opportunities in the health care sector as our population ages.

Survivorship

As we learn more about survivorship we will understand that there are issues about not only the quantity of life or how long one lives but also the quality of life. Some time ago I had the occasion to accompany my father to the Urology Clinic at the University Hospital. There I saw men of varying ages awaiting care. It struck me that many of them were on their own and that they could have benefited from the support of family members or friends. We certainly need more support groups for people who are experiencing health challenges.

Churches and other civic and community organizations in collaboration with health workers and family members need to share the knowledge and other resources as well the support required to provide adequate care. A question that needs our consideration is who cares for the caregivers who are themselves likely to burn out. I also recognise that young caregivers are under additional pressure as they are forced to take on adult roles and that their teachers at school need to be aware and supportive. The recent headlines that said that some children do not trust their guidance counsellors in regard to information about the HIV positive status of their parents were very disturbing.

There is now so much information available on the Internet, and in the media about various health conditions and treatment that people have no excuse for ignorance. We have to get our young people more alert and aware of healthy lifestyles and their maintenance. This is not only important for individuals but will impact on the country's capacity to be productive.