Canadian Federal Health Ministry Refuses to Answer D.I.P.G. Children and Families
Dear Petition Supporters,
As many of you know, Petition
e-440: May 15th as National D.I.P.G. Awareness Day was presented
to the House of Commons on October 31st, 2016. The Federal Health
Ministry posted a response to the petition on December 14th, 2016.
Unfortunately, it was an incomplete response that did not
give an answer to our petition request: “We, the undersigned, Citizens
of Canada, call upon the House of Commons in Parliament assembled to
declare May 15th as National D.I.P.G. Awareness Day across Canada”
The Federal Health Ministry’s response can be
found here:
There are several problems with their response:
(1)
They did not answer the petition. There was
no “yes” or “no” regarding whether they will declare a D.I.P.G. Awareness Day across
Canada which was the only request of
the petition. They simply did NOT answer the petition. After making a
complaint, I was instructed that I need to contact the Health Ministry directly
or my elected Member of Parliament.
(2)
It included cancer research funding fact: out
of $825 million only $29 million went to pediatric cancer research in general (only
3.5%) but failed to mention only 0.09% went to DIPG research.
(3)
There will be only $100, 000 invested in DIPG
research this year by the CIHR--how can we find a cure for the most vicious brain tumour with hardly any funding??
(4)
It quoted the $11.7 million Stand Up 2 Cancer will be investing in brain
tumour research over the next four years: “The team will focus on glioblastomas in adults and
children and on posterior fossa ependymomas of infants.” Glioblastoma cells
have been used for over 50 years in DIPG research and have yielded NO POSITIVE RESULTS---this amazing Dream
Team will NOT be researching DIPG nor has glioblastoma research
translated into any viable treatment options or a cure for DIPG so it has no relevance to this petition. http://www.standup2cancer.ca/en/press_releases/su2c_canada_announces_new_cancer_stem_cell_dream_team_to_attack_brain_cance
To say that we are heartbroken over the Canadian Health
Ministry’s lack of interest in DIPG brain tumour awareness is an
understatement. In previous dialogue with Health Minister Philpott, she indicated that
it was the lack of researcher interest in DIPG brain tumours that was to blame
for the minimal funding and progress.
However, when given a COST-FREE
opportunity to help raise awareness, the Health Ministry would not even give an
answer. Once again, D.I.P.G. children and families have been ignored and pushed
aside for those health issues that bring the health ministry more media coverage.
Please join our continued fight and write the Federal
Health Ministry to request that they answer
petition e-440: May 15th as D.I.P.G. Awareness Day across Canada, and that they answer YES:
jane.philpott@canada.ca
Minister_ministre@hc-sc.gc.ca
Minister_ministre@hc-sc.gc.ca
Remind her that D.I.P.G. children are on borrowed time...
