The World Child Cancer (WCC) Ghana has called for an increase in advocacy efforts to secure more funding and resources to fight childhood cancers and blood disorders across the country.
The organisation also called for the need for more comprehensive training in haematological care and other critical pediatric health issues.
The WCC explained that the World Health Organisation (WHO) had estimated that more than 1,500 children aged zero to 14 develop cancer annually in the country, highlighting the urgent need for more resources to fight childhood cancers.
The WCC made the call at a close-out meeting on a ‘Strengthening Haematology skills in Ghana’ project in Accra last Friday.
The 18-month project, funded by Bristol Myers Square, was aimed at equipping healthcare professionals (HCPs) with relevant knowledge and practical skills to manage haematological emergencies, blood transfusion complications and supportive care for children with childhood cancers.
Capacity building
In a speech read on his behalf, the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, thanked the WCC and Bristol Myers Square for their commitment to building the capacity of HCPs in the country.
He said the ministry would work on sustaining the gains made and integrating the lessons learned into the national framework.
He encouraged stakeholders to continue to collaborate to ensure that no child was left behind in the fight against childhood cancers and blood disorders.
Childhood cancer
The Country Coordinator of the WCC, Adwoa Pinamang Boateng Desu, said childhood cancer was highly curable, with survival rates exceeding 80 per cent in high-income countries.
However, she said in Ghana, survival rates remained below 50 per cent due to factors such as low diagnosis rates, poor access to childhood cancer treatment centres and a scarcity of HCPs specialised in pediatric oncology.
In view of the project, she said a Training of Trainers (ToT) model was adopted, with 30 individuals from various facilities trained to become Trainers of frontline health workers.
She said a total of 282 HCPs, including doctors, nurses, physician assistants, laboratory professionals, and pharmacists, have been trained in the northern, middle and southern zones of the country.
“Educational materials on blood transfusion, sickle cell and leukaemia have been developed and stored in an online repository at the Health Promotion Division of Ghana Health Service,” he added.
Support
The Country Manager for WCC, Luke Capper, called for childhood cancer to be prioritised at the national level.
He said the WCC in its capacity in 2024, provided 7,439 family members and patients with emotional support, trained 1,509 healthcare staff in early warning signs and symptoms, and provided financial support for treatment, transport, nutrition, accommodation and diagnostic tests for 5,391 families.
He added that 1,125 children also received school education whilst hospitalised.
