Move to train experts on childhood cancer good

On February 15, the International Childhood Cancer Day, was commemorated. According to the International Childhood Cancer Day website, the day is a “global collaborative campaign to raise awareness about childhood cancer, and to express support for children and adolescents with cancer, the survivors and their families.

The day promotes increased appreciation and deeper understanding of issues and challenges relevant to childhood cancer and impact on children/adolescents with cancer, the survivors, their families and the society as a whole. It also spotlights the need for more equitable and better access to treatment and care for all children with cancer, everywhere.

According to the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI), 7,000 children are estimated to develop cancer every year. UCI statistics show that they received 512 referrals of children with cancer in 2017, up from 476 in 2016. They also show that 55 per cent of children are alive at one year after being diagnosed with cancer – most of whom are ultimately cured. But 55 per cent is a low figure and more needs to be done to improve the number of children who are treated with success.

This is why the fact that Uganda has started training experts to manage childhood cancer prevalence is welcome news. According to Dr Joyce Balagadde, the head of Paediatric oncology at Uganda Cancer Institute, Uganda has three full-time certified children’s cancer doctors, 14 dedicated doctors and 24 nurses at the paediatric unit. The training of doctors at the unit in this area is likely to see more manpower dedicated to treating children’s cancers, thus saving more lives.

The current team has eight doctors from Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya and will have six more joining them later. They are being trained by a team from Texas Children’s Hospital, a hospital well known for treating childhood diseases, and other partners. Some of the common cancers among children in Uganda include Burkitt’s lymphoma, Hodgkins lymphoma, Wilms tumour and acute leukemia, cancers, which are painful and which no doubt leave parents in anguish when they see their children suffer and in some cases die.

The initiative to have the training of these specialists should, therefore, be applauded, encouraged and supported by all the stakeholders. Cancer has become a disease that is ravaging the nation yet early diagnosis can lead to cure.
If we should save children and allow them to lead a healthier life and to attain their dreams as UCI has shown, then everything should be done to protect them from cancer.

The issue: Childhood cancer
Our view: Cancer has become a disease that is ravaging the nation yet early diagnosis can lead to cure. If there is a possibility to save children and allow them to lead a healthier life and live out their dreams as UCI has shown, then let everything that can be done, be done to let the children live.