Rohan Bloom Foundation renews drive to open hospice for children

Nearly a decade after its founding, the Rohan Bloom Foundation continues to pursue its dream of creating a dedicated paediatric palliative care centre in Cape Town.

The foundation was established in memory of 14-year-old Rohan Bloom, who died of Ewing sarcoma, a rare bone cancer, in 2015.

After his death, Rohan’s family pledged to try to help other families who would walk a similar, devastating path.

Rohan’s father, Rod Bloom, says they recognised the need for a dedicated child hospice in Cape Town, adding that no child ought to die in a hospital bed.

"It's just not the right place for children to pass away, and that's when I thought, 'Isn't there a place, a hospice, where the child can pass away and the family can be held?'"

Rod says the plan was to build a hospice, but explains that over the years, that vision has changed.

"Now it's a lot bigger project; we're trying to put together a centre of excellence."

Paediatric specialist Dr Michelle Meiring of the NPO PaedsPal says despite hospice closures in the last few years, there have been developments in the palliative care space.

"The positive element we have seen is that the Department of Health is looking to integrate palliative care into public healthcare facilities."

Although she admits none of them focus specifically on children.

"I'm always the one at the meetings saying 'what about the children?', because historically things tend to be done for the adults first."

Meiring says the type of centre of excellence being imagined by the Rohan Bloom Foundation would be of huge benefit, not just to families, but to the healthcare sector too.

"I'm extremely passionate about being able to bring the palliative care student into the clinical environment."

To listen to the conversation from Lunch with Pippa Hudson, use the audio player below: