In low- and middle-income countries, pediatric cancer patients have a survival rate of 20-30%. In contrast, children with cancer in a high-income country have an 80% survival rate. The disparities in survival rates of pediatric cancer patients are due to several factors, including healthcare providers’ limited training in pediatric oncology and insufficient awareness of pediatric cancer amongst members of the public.
To address these disparities, BVGH partnered with the African and North American branches of the International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) to organize and lead a 16-session digital lecture series on the treatment and management of pediatric cancers. The course was designed to meet the needs of medical professionals who treat pediatric cancer patients in Africa.
Almost 2,000 doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals from 31 countries attended the course, which covered oncologic emergencies; lymphomas, acute leukemias, kidney tumors and other common pediatric cancers; supportive care for children with cancer; and palliative care. Each lecture was led by expert trainers from globally renowned institutions such as the American Cancer Society, Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt 5735, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Uganda Cancer Institute, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, National Cancer Institute, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Mère-Enfant, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Newcastle University, Alliance Mondiale Contre le Cancer, Tygerberg Hospital, and the African Palliative Care Association.
Special thanks to Dr. Mahmoud Hammad, Dr. Jennifer Geel, and Dr. Joyce Kambugu of SIOP Africa for their involvement with the course.
“So educational for me, I’m glad to implement what I learned into my treatment strategies so that I can improve on the quality of care given to my patients”
– AAI Introduction to Treatment of Pediatric Cancers participant from Uganda