GLOBAL CANCER INITIATIVES
21 CANCER CONTROL 2021
Such work should not be limited to Africa. Further collection
of information is critical in other continents where resources
are limited, and a similar survey is ongoing in South and
Central America and soon in South Asia. In addition, regular
updates are needed to offer the most accurate information
and measure progresses over time.
Conclusion: A better understanding, and providing
help to families
The SIOP Global Mapping Programme has provided a much
better understanding of how children/adolescents with
cancer are treated across Africa. This is enabling collaboration
with WHO GICC and assisting SIOP and local stakeholders
including NGOs, to advocate for resources, equipment, and
specialized paediatric oncology health workforce where it is
needed most. The programme has highlighted that in many
African countries, chemotherapy is not continuously available
(9), which allows for local, regional, and international advocacy
by all stakeholders, including parents. This article has shown
what is needed, why it is needed and what is already working.
The SIOP Global Mapping Programme is not just an academic
exercise but is helping families across the continent identify
where their child may receive treatment, resources for support
during treatment and demonstrates the essential role played
by NGOs in supporting these families. As a parent of a child
who survived a childhood cancer, I confirm that the elements
of childhood cancer care addressed here were essential to
my daughter's recovery. All children/adolescents with cancer
and their families deserve optimal care no matter their
geography. n
Acknowledgments
The SIOP Global Mapping programme has only happened thanks
to the financial support of the Sanofi Espoir Foundation, and many
people giving up a lot of time over the past three years. A huge
thank you to the contributors to this paper and, Khumo Mhezo,
Scott Howard, Susanne Wollaert, Kathryn Burns.
Neil Ranasinghe, BA is the parent of a survivor of childhood
leukaemia. He volunteers for cancer organizations, contributing his
writing and editing expertise, his English degree, and his leadership
capabilities. Neil is a senior technical author at the London Stock
Exchange.
Neil is co-founder of a group of parents (PORT) that reviews
paediatric oncology clinical documentation for parents and
patients.
He is co-chair of the SIOP Global Health Education and Training
Working Group (POINTE) that helps LMIC clinicians find education
or training to help them treat children with cancer. Neil is a founder
member of the SIOP Global Mapping Programme.
Dr Joyce Balagadde Kambugu is a Consultant Peadiatric
Oncologist. She is the Director of Paediatrics at Uganda Cancer
Institute (UCI), the National referral cancer treatment centre in
Uganda. She is also the incoming Continental President of the
International Society of Peadiatric Oncology (SIOP Africa). With
more than 10 years' experience in the field Joyce is a passionate
advocate for childhood cancer in developing countries and believes
that every child with cancer deserves the best treatment possible
within the confines of available resources in their country. She is a
member of the National Cancer Control Secretariat and is involved
in development of the Paediatric National Control Plan
Lorna Renner is a consultant paediatrician with a specialization
in paediatric oncology, Head of the Paediatric Oncology Service
at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and Deputy Director of West
African Genetic Medicine Centre. She is Chairperson for the Faculty
of Child Health, Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons. Dr
Renner is also a past President of the African Continental Branch
of the International Society for Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) and
country project lead for World Child Cancer, a UK based charity, in
Ghana. She is the recipient of several awards, most recently ASCO
Women Who Conquer Cancer International Mentorship Award
2021.
Professor Kathy Pritchard-Jones is Professor of Paediatric
Oncology, University College London Great Ormond Street
Institute of Child Health, London, UK. She leads clinical and
translational research in childhood kidney cancer and is a clinical
lead within Health Data Research UK's digital innovation hub for
cancer, DATA-CAN. She is President of the International Society of
Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) at a critical time to support the global
implementation of the WHO's challenge to double childhood
cancer survival rates in low- and middle-income countries from
~30% to 60% by 2030. She was medical director for an integrated
cancer system of healthcare providers serving a multi-ethnic
population of 3.5 million in North London and continues to
evaluate improvements to whole pathways of care.
Professor Davidson (MBChB, FCPaed, CMO, MPhil) is Head of
the Paediatric Haematology-Oncology Service at the Red Cross
War Memorial Children's Hospital and the University of Cape
Town. His clinical and research interests include paediatric brain
tumours, HIV-related cancers, genetic predisposition syndromes,
stem cell transplantation for primary immunodeficiency and
adapted therapy regimens for low- and middle-income settings.
He co-chairs the South African Paediatric Brain Tumour Workshop
and serves as the vice-president of the Society for NeuroOncology's
Sub-Saharan Africa branch. Having served as the co-chair of the
International Society of Paediatric Oncology's Global Health
Network (PODC) he now chairs the Advocacy committee.