World Child Cancer in partnership with Ghana Health Service has trained healthcare professionals on childhood cancer care and management in the country. World Child Cancer is the leading international Children’s Charity Organization, dedicated to addressing the global inequality in Childhood Cancer Care in low- and middle-income countries. This training is part of the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer (GICC), launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2018.
The initiative aims to enhance the survival rates and quality of life for children with cancer worldwide. It specifically targets increasing the survival rate of childhood cancer in low- and middle-income countries, where outcomes are often much poorer compared to high-income countries. The training also focuses on building the capacity of healthcare professionals to diagnose, treat, and manage childhood cancers, which is essential for meeting the goals of the GICC.
Pinamang Boateng Desu, the Country Coordinator of World Child Cancer, Ghana, made this known during the two-day training held in Accra. The program equips healthcare providers with standardized protocols for childhood cancer care, ensuring that children receive consistent and effective treatment regardless of their location. “The GICC aims to increase childhood cancer survival rates to at least 60% by 2030.
Training healthcare professionals in the latest treatment protocols and care strategies is crucial to achieving this target. In many low-resource settings, healthcare providers may lack specialized training in pediatric oncology. This training helps them acquire the skills needed to use available resources more effectively, leading to better patient outcomes.
Proper training ensures accurate diagnosis, treatment, and reporting of childhood cancer cases, which is vital for tracking progress under the GICC. Additionally, it empowers healthcare professionals to advocate for improved resources, funding, and policies in their regions, supporting the broader goals of the initiative. In a nutshell, training under the GICC is essential for enhancing the quality of childhood cancer care, leading to better outcomes and supporting the initiative’s global objectives,” she highlighted.
Dr. Nihad Salifu, a Pediatric Oncologist at Greater Accra Regional Hospital, explained that Childhood cancer differs significantly from cancer in adults, she said while many childhood cancers’ causes remain unknown, early detection can often be cured if detected early. She noted that Ghana is currently diagnosing around 500 childhood cancer cases annually, far below the expected 1,500, and stressed the importance of improving early detection to change these statistics.
According to her, advanced countries have cure rates exceeding 80%, but in Ghana, about 70% of diagnosed cases are already advanced by the time they are detected,” she said. She highlighted the need for proper implementation of childhood cancer coverage under the National Health Insurance Scheme, noting that many families are still bearing significant out-of-pocket expenses due to inadequate coverage. She urged the government to ensure that cancer diagnosis and treatment become universally accessible and sustainable.
Dr. Salifu also called on the media to provide platforms for healthcare professionals and parents to discuss the disease and share their experiences. Some participants who benefited from the training expressed gratitude to World Child Cancer and its partners for equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary to manage childhood cancer cases in the country.
The training was funded by Amgen Biopharmaceutical Company. The company has played a key role in advancing pediatric oncology care and supporting the broader goals of childhood cancer initiatives through collaboration with World Child Cancer. Source: Isaac Kofi Dzokpo/newsghana.
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