Oncology Kitchen at ICH takes a worry off the plate for parents of children with cancer
Malnutrition is cancer’s wingman with a cruiser-ready shotgun. Cancer is formidable enough without this companion-in-arms by its side; and when the two team up, a two-front war is a necessity. At the government-run Institute of Child Health and Hospital for Children (ICH) in Egmore, oncologists and social workers are engaged in such a war, the former treating the children at the cancer ward and the latter, treating them to eats, as nourishing as they are tasty, at a unique kitchen.
It is called “Oncology Kitchen”, clearly the rarest of rare doublets. But this lexical pair enjoys easy familiarity with the tongues of its beneficiaries (at any given time around 50 children undergoing cancer treatment at ICH as well as a few children being treated for thalassemia) because from Monday to Saturday, between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., the aroma of health food tastily done wafts out of this kitchen and heads to the beds at the cancer ward. The caretaker of a child registers and takes the food to the ward. Children who are not weak might tag along with their caretakers, and following registration, have the food in the kitchen.
G.V. Williams, founder of the voluntary organisation Myrtle Social Welfare Network, which runs the Oncology Kitchen at ICH, notes this kitchen is hardly an add-on service, but one integral to cancer treatment which often causes severe weight loss and declining blood counts and ups nutritional demands significantly.
At the Oncology Kitchen at ICH, Egmore.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
Oncology Kitchen programme coordinator Tryphosa Mavis recalls the story of Devayani (name changed), a child diagnosed with blood cancer and who following treatment, was reduced to skin and bones. With proper nutrition and care from the Oncology Kitchen, she improved, gaining the necessary weight and showing adequately increased blood levels. Today, she visits the hospital only for monthly follow-ups, and has become an icon of hope for parents whose children are facing similar weight loss. Seeing Devayani, they know their child too need not stay emaciated on account of cancer treatment.
The kitchen offers another balm to parents; in fact a cure, ridding them of the anxiety of having to provide their children up against cancer with nutritious food; it takes that worry off their plate. Everything on the bill of fare at the Oncology Kitchen is free of cost. It was with this dual aim the Oncology Kitchen was launched at ICH on April 18, 2024, says Williams.
He rattles off the usual contents of the menu: rice porridge, health mix, cut fruits, milk, boiled eggs and sprouts. In addition, the kitchen offers customised meals. He elaborates that some children require to be on a specialised diet plan based on their condition and treatment and the preparation in the kitchen follows the food prescriptions written out by the oncologist. The kitchen serves 300 to 360 meals every week, with the total weekly cost ranging between ₹40,000 and ₹50,000. Among Myrtle’s plans for the future is increasing the offering to three meals a day.
A close encounter
The inspiration to start Oncology Kitchen’ dates back to 2015, when Williams saw his friend lose his daughter to cancer; the girl was struck in the prime of her life, being just 20 years old at the time of death. Before her death, she wished that no child suffering from cancer should be left uncared for; even when facing the inevitable, her voice only reflected compassion, recalls Williams.
The kitchen is an outcome of a memorandum of understanding Myrtle Social Welfare Network signed with ICH to support the children undergoing cancer treatment at the hospital and their parents in various ways. Besides seeking to keep these children in good health through the Oncology Kitchen, the voluntary organisation keeps them in good cheer through activities (for a sense of what they do at ICH), check out their Insta page @myrtle_social_welfare_network.
Notable ways in which secondary support shows up include: one, recognising that siblings are often neglected during a medical crisis, it provides educational support for them. It further conducts monthly parent support meetings where families share experiences, seek guidance and support one another through difficult times, Williams notes.
Among the assurances made to the hospital about the Oncology Kitchen is a commitment to maintaining hygiene and sanitation standards. Overseen by a manager and a supervisor, the kitchen comes with the assurance of FSSAI certification, says Williams.
Williams notes that when the idea of a kitchen of this stripe was up in the air, the hospital authorities and parents gave it a double thumbs up, displaying an unbiased mind. He adds that the government has definitely been benevolent with their constant support.
At ICH.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
The NGO meets the expenditure with donations from individuals and organisations. People can also sponsor meals for the children undergoing treatment.
For details about the Oncology Kitchen, contact Myrtle Social Welfare Network at 9840096022.
Published – July 04, 2026 12:41 pm IST
