According to World Child Cancer, Ghana reports over 1,200 new cases of cancer in children under 15 annually, with acute leukemia being the most prevalent type of childhood cancer.
This information was shared by Prof. Cathy Segbefia, a pediatric hematologist-oncologist at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and lead on World Child Cancer’s Strengthening Haematology Skills in Ghana project.
Furthermore, approximately 15,000 babies are born with sickle cell disease each year, making it the most common inherited blood disorder of clinical significance. Prof. Segbefia noted that both conditions unfortunately have poor survival rates in low-income countries.
Highlighting the challenges and solutions, she emphasised that the availability of supportive care, including blood transfusions, significantly impacts outcomes, while limited access to treatment and healthcare services worsens the situation.
Ghana has progressed by incorporating childhood cancers into the National Health Insurance Scheme benefit package, enhancing accessibility to certain care components.
Blood transfusions are vital for children with cancer and sickle cell disease, yet the shortage of blood donations poses a considerable challenge to adequate care provision.
She stressed that nurturing hematology care in Ghana necessitates a multifaceted approach for scalability and sustainability.
The Strengthening Hematology Skills project, led by World Child Cancer, has achieved notable milestones in training healthcare professionals and developing educational materials.
In her part, the Country Coordinator of World Child Cancer, Adwoa Pinamang Boateng Desu, mentioned that through the sponsorship of Bristol Myers Squibb, they have been able to train 282 healthcare professionals, including 14 oncology pharmacists, through a training-of-trainers model.
She explained that educational and communication materials were developed on blood transfusion, sickle cell disease, and leukemia in collaboration with the Health Promotion Division of the Ghana Health Service.
The training improved healthcare professionals’ knowledge and skills in managing hematological disorders, and blood transfusion reactions were better handled.
“Improved Knowledge – Healthcare professionals now have updated knowledge on handling hematological disorders and managing blood-related cases,” she lamented.
Hoping for better days ahead, Mrs. Boateng Desu said that ensuring the sustainability of the project’s gains would require continued support and monitoring, with potential expansion of the training program to reach more healthcare professionals and facilities.
She added that there would be continuous evaluation of the project’s impact on healthcare services and outcomes for children with hematological conditions.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
