The conference will run all day on Saturday and on Sunday morning. 

Themes and topics that will probably be covered in the talks are:

Keynote speaker:  We are delighted that Prof John Spinetta of San Diego, USA has agreed to present at the conference.  John is acknowledged as one of the leading experts in the world on the psychosocial effects of childhood cancer on the children and families.  He has written extensively on the subject, and is one of the primary authors of the Psychosocial Guidelines published by the International Society of Paediatric Oncology.  John gave a talk at our 2003 conference, via a tele-conference link, which was very well received. 

Parents and Families: Coping strategies; Discipline for a sick child; Effects on siblings. 

Medical Aspects and Updates:  New medical developments; Role of traditional healers; Teenage cancer patients; Challenges confronting the medical staff.

Support Systems for Families: Advocacy for cancer patients; Supporting the bereaved child; Nutrition of the child cancer patient.

Survivors:  The survivors’ perspective; Long-term effects. 

Childhood Cancer in Africa:  Childhood Cancer - challenges in Africa and South Africa; Experiences of childhood cancer treatment in other African countries. 

Nurses Sessions:

We are trying to arrange sessions specifically for nurses working in the field of Paediatric Oncology, which will run in parallel with some of the parent sessions.  A working group of nurses from each of the centres will be putting this programme together.  Please indicate your interest on the form. 

 

If you would like to present a paper, on any topic related to childhood cancer, please email an abstract to us on workshop@choc.org.za as soon as possible. 

We aim to finalise the program by the end of January 2008.

 

Information

The arrangements are as follows:

-                      Registration will start from 7.00am on Sat 12^th April.

-                      Sessions will commence at 8.30 am each morning. 

-                      The conference ends at 5.30 pm on Saturday, and at 1.00pm on Sunday. 

-                      A light lunch will be provided on each day. 

-                      There will be a social event, with a finger dinner, on the Saturday evening. 

CPD points for the conference will be applied for.  Please indicate on the registration form whether you would require this.  There will be a charge of R100 per delegate for the CPD certificate. 

Registration:  Please fill in the registration form and email an electronic version, to the CHOC Johannesburg office, in order to help us with our planning.  Alternatively you may fax it to the number on the form. 

The registration fee for the conference will be R350, but an “early bird” fee of R300 is offered to those delegates who register and pay before the 29^th February 2008. 

Sponsor someone else:  Some people may wish to sponsor another parent or nurse to attend the conference.  If you would like to do this, please indicate it on your registration form. 

Transport:  Local Divisions of CHOC will be co-ordinating travel from their centres for people who wish to share transport.  Please contact your local CHOC Office. 

Accommodation:  We expect that many delegates from out of Gauteng will stay with friends or family.  We have negotiated accommodation and made provisional reservations at some local hotels, and Bed & Breakfast facilities, at good rates.   A list of these establishments, with their contact details and their rates, is available from the CHOC offices, and below.  

Delegates should make their own reservations directly, which will be for their account. 

 

Name	Type	Rate pp pn sharing	Address	Contact
Cedar Park Hotel	3 * hotel	R460	120 Western Service Rd; Woodmead	Soraia. 011-804-3777 www.cedarpark.co.za
Garden Court, Morningside	4 * hotel	R498	1 Cullinan Close; Morningside. Sandton	Claudia.  011-884-1804 cladiag@southensun.com
Southern Sun	4 * hotel	R	Grayston / Rivonia Rds. Sandton	Sharon.  011-783-5262 sharong@southernsun.com
City Lodge, Morningside	hotel	R460 per room; Breakfast R70	Off Grayston Drive. Sandton	Linda.  011-444-5300

 

Bursaries:  CHOC will provide some partial subsidies for parents, nurses and volunteers towards the registration fees.  We will also provide some subsidies for similar delegates from other centres towards accommodation and transport.  Please contact your local CHOC Division office for further details; their contact numbers are on the registration form, and below. 

 

CHOC Office contacts: