Delhi’s Ex IRAS Officer and cancer survivor aids children with cancer across India 

Poonam Bagai, originally from Bhopal and brought up in Delhi, transitioned from being a civil service officer to the founder of an NGO, marking an emotional and transformative journey. Her battle with cancer led her to promise herself that she would take this as a sign to help others going through similar turmoil.

Calling it a spiritual odyssey, Poonam takes it as a pledge and a pre-bargaining with God that motivated her to quit her comforting job and embark on the journey of founding a non-profit organization called CanKids KidsCan in 2004 to help children with cancer and their families in India.

Poonam was a civil servant in Western Railway for a couple of years and then moved to Bangkok with her ex-husband and collaborated with the United Nations’ ESCAP as a transport consultant.

In late 2000, Poonam was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. “I tried to fight with cancer courageously, but soon, a deep depression took over, I could not remain a ‘positive cancer patient’,” said Poonam.

After her treatment was completed in 2002, Poonam traveled back to India with a strong purpose. She unexpectedly met Sonal Sharma, a mother of a cancer survivor, and the duo resonated well. Hence, in 2004 they co-founded a non-profit organisation called CanKids KidsCan.

In the early days of the NGO, the duo immersed themselves in the hospital environment, sitting outside the OPD, creating what they fondly called a ‘Chettai Clinic.’ to understand the challenges families of children with cancer faced. Initially, They began helping children with cancer financially to help them proceed with the treatment as soon as possible.

To raise funds, the co-founders of CanKids KidsCan organized a remarkable event that raised a crore of rupees. This approach became the foundation of the NGO.

Poonam shares why her main focus revolves around helping children with cancer, “As a mom, I can’t imagine the devastation of finding out that your child has cancer. For many families, especially those underserved the focus becomes survival – trying to get money, make arrangements, and deal with practical problems.”  That’s why CanKids’ ‘You Are Not Alone’ program of the NGO aims to take away these practical burdens like money, accommodation, and treatment.

The NGO also helps families of children with cancer grab government schemes for medical help to release the financial burden of the underprivileged families going through the turmoil.  

The NGO also helps the cancer survivors and their families become patient navigators which, in turn, help them earn some money and empower cancer survivors and their mothers.

The non-profit organization accomplished many milestones and has been rigorously working to provide aid to cancer patients. Since its inception in 2004, the NGO has directly supported over 78,000 families, providing financial assistance for their children’s treatment, covering expenses for drugs, diagnostics, and more.

It has a team of 400 professionals, including social workers, patient navigators, teachers, counselors, psychologists, child life specialists, dietitians, and dedicated nurses, working in 140-plus hospitals. It also has about 5,000 team members, including parent and survivor groups, as well as volunteers. CanKids has partnered with 140+ hospitals across 57 cities in three categories.

Poonam adds, “Annually, we extend support to approximately 20,000 to 25,000 children, encompassing both new cases and those continuing treatment from the previous year. Our comprehensive care model ensures that once we provide a service, like a social worker, nutritionist, or psychologist to a hospital, it benefits all children seeking treatment there.”

Poonam, talking about the various programs they incorporated to provide follow-up care after the treatment, said that after completing treatment, children remain under the follow-up care for about 15 years. 

The NGO also has ‘Home Away From Home’ for families seeking treatment away from their cities, Scanshala for education, and Palliative Care Centers. The Palliative Care Center in Gautam Nagar, near Green Park metro station, focuses on pain management, symptom relief, end-of-life care, and bereavement support. It has also implemented the Ganshala model in Bombay and Tamil Nadu to provide formal education for children with cancer.

With numerous success stories coming out of this noble cause, Poonam shared a few that have been giving her the push to never give up.

“Currently, we have around 30 cancer survivors actively contributing to CanKids, showcasing their determination and capabilities. Some have ventured into the private sector, like the inspiring couple Chandan and Ritu, who, after marriage and having a baby, are achieving milestones. Ritu, a mentee, underwent management training in a private firm, and Chandan is making strides at Resonance Technologies.”

Poonam manages funds for the well-being of the children with cancer through a dynamic process. They initially raised funds from high-net-worth individuals, diversified to international foundations, and the Corporate Social Responsibility Act of 2015.

70-75% of funds come from grants, projects, and CSR, with additional contributions from foundations, high-net-worth individuals, and donations. Poonam aims to build a corpus for the organization this year to function better.

Shedding light on the important role non-profit organizations play in bridging gaps in healthcare, Poonam expressed, “Since 2004, we’ve been addressing these challenges. In 2008, we introduced social support staff to identify patients’ needs, financial situations, and bridge the gap in accessing government schemes. The complexity of state schemes, like the Asadhya Rog scheme in KGMU, functioned smoothly with our social support team’s assistance.” 

She further added, “NGOs play a pivotal role in helping people access various schemes, especially for children.”