Kwara State Cancer Program Screening Launch Event As the burden of cancer continues to climb across Nigeria – with tens of thousands of new cases each year, and cancers such as breast, prostate, and liver among the most common – early detection has never been more critical. BVGH partnered with the Kwara State Ministry ofContinue reading “BVGH Partners with Kwara State to Launch Cancer Screening Programs”
Author Archives: bvghseattle
Highlighting Public Cancer Awareness for September
September marks the awareness month for prostate, hematologic, and pediatric cancers. As part of the Let’s Talk About Cancer program, BVGH launched targeted social media campaigns to educate the African public on these cancers’ common symptoms, risk factors, and prevention techniques. Reaching 1,571 accounts, the campaigns showcased easy-to-understand awareness materials designed for communities with limitedContinue reading “Highlighting Public Cancer Awareness for September”
African Physicians Trained to Catch Liver Cancer Early
Liver cancer presents a major health challenge across Sub-Saharan Africa, driven in part by chronic hepatitis B and C virus infections. Too often, patients are diagnosed at advanced stages, when treatment options are limited. Late stage diagnoses are a major factor contributing to the sub-continent’s high mortality to incidence ratio (0.94). To address Sub-Saharan Africa’sContinue reading “African Physicians Trained to Catch Liver Cancer Early”
Nigerian Oncology Staff Prepared to Launch Advanced Radiotherapy Services Nationwide
Eight international trainers from six institutions traveled to Lagos to provide their expertise in cutting edge radiation oncology. Recognizing that approximately 60% of cancer patients require radiotherapy as a component of their treatment, the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare committed to equipping six cancer centers across the country’s geopolitical zones with state-of-the-artContinue reading “Nigerian Oncology Staff Prepared to Launch Advanced Radiotherapy Services Nationwide”
Let’s Talk About Cancer: Increasing Liver Cancer Awareness
Liver cancer patients in Africa have the lowest survival rates globally. Over 70% of liver cancer cases on the continent are attributed to hepatitis B and C virus infections, making many of these deaths preventable through vaccination and screening. In partnership with AAI hospitals in Nigeria, BVGH has developed evidence-based educational materials aimed at improvingContinue reading “Let’s Talk About Cancer: Increasing Liver Cancer Awareness”
Supporting the Whole Patient: BVGH Delivers AAI Psychosocial Oncology Course
A cancer diagnosis results in more than just medical challenges – it can be an overwhelming emotional, logistical, and financial burden for patients and their families. In response to requests from AAI hospital partners, BVGH developed a 5-session digital lecture series focused on psychosocial oncology. Delivered by experts from Germany, Kenya, Uganda, and the USA,Continue reading “Supporting the Whole Patient: BVGH Delivers AAI Psychosocial Oncology Course”
Imaging Training to Transform Breast Cancer Patient Outcomes in Africa
Participants of the 2025 AAI Breast Cancer Early Detection and Referral Part 2 digital course Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Africa, claiming more than 91,000 lives in 2022 alone. A major contributor to this high mortality rate is the high frequency of late stage diagnoses. Access to routine screening mammogramsContinue reading “Imaging Training to Transform Breast Cancer Patient Outcomes in Africa”
BVGH and Partners Host Training to Advance Cancer Diagnostics in Nigeria
Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and flow cytometry are essential tools for diagnosing cancers, yet their adoption in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) remains limited due to high costs and a shortage of trained personnel. To support the expansion of diagnostic services in Nigeria, BVGH coordinated and ran a hands-on advanced pathology training program at Lagos UniversityContinue reading “BVGH and Partners Host Training to Advance Cancer Diagnostics in Nigeria”
Applying Technological Solutions to Streamline the Cancer Patient Pathway in Côte d’Ivoire
Dr. Simon Pierre Boni Côte d’Ivoire’s cancer death to incidence ratio was 0.66 in 2022, which is significantly higher than that of high-income regions such as the USA (0.25). Côte d’Ivoire lacks a standardized system that notifies patients and their oncologists when their pathology test results are available. Instead, Ivorian patients must travel to theirContinue reading “Applying Technological Solutions to Streamline the Cancer Patient Pathway in Côte d’Ivoire”
Senegalese Hematologist Visits Morehouse School of Medicine to Train on Next Generation Sequencing
Children with cancer in Africa face much higher mortality rates (80%) compared with children in high-income countries (20%). Inadequate diagnostic infrastructure combined with limited healthcare professional pediatric cancer diagnostic expertise are contributors to these high mortality rates in Africa. While it is known that genetics are linked to the development of some pediatric cancers, moreContinue reading “Senegalese Hematologist Visits Morehouse School of Medicine to Train on Next Generation Sequencing”