GLOBAL CANCER INITIATIVES
22 CANCER CONTROL 2021
Nurses (APHON) and active in the Spanish Working Group bringing
the APHON Chemo/Biotherapy course to Latin America.
Professor Laila Hessissen is Professor of Pediatrics at the Medical
School of Rabat, Morocco, and a faculty member since 2000.
She is also a Pediatric Hematology Oncologist at the Pediatric
Hematology Oncology Centre of Rabat. She is president of the
Francophone-African Group of Pediatric Oncology (GFAOP), and
Continental President of SIOP-Africa.
Since 2014, she has been involved in the creation and supervision
of a Certified Diploma of Pediatric Oncology for clinicians in
Francophone Africa. This is at the Mohammed V University of
Rabat, and is recognized by the Paris-Sud University, France.
Through this programme, she has developed the e-learning platform
for paediatric oncology in Francophone Africa (www.e-gfaop.org).
Professor Jennifer Geel, MBChB, FC Paed, Cert Med Onc, MMed
is a paediatric oncologist based in Johannesburg, South Africa. She
is the Head of Unit, Paediatric Haematology/Oncology at Charlotte
Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, former chair of the
Ministerial Advisory Committee on Cancer Control and Prevention,
and current Secretary-General of SIOP-Africa. Professor Geel is a
founder member of the SIOP Global Mapping Programme.
Professor Maria El kababri is Professor of Pediatrics at
Mohammed V University of Rabat, Morocco, where she has been
a faculty member since 2009. She also works as a paediatric
hematology oncologist at the Pediatric Hematology Oncology
Centre in Rabat. She is the treasurer of Moroccan Society of
Paediatric Hematology and Oncology (SMHOP). Since 2015, she
worked at the Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Unit of
the Paediatric Hematology and Oncology Centre at the Children's
Hospital of Rabat, Morocco.
Korede Akindele is a seasoned professional with an uncommon
blend of a strategic approach that implements actions to improve
individuals, organizations and nations.
He is a childhood cancer advocate and Head of Programs at The
Dorcas Cancer Foundation Nigeria, he currently serves in various
global developmental roles.
Korede has impacted thousands of people, healthcare
professionals, leaders and individuals in Africa and Middle East,
improving understanding of the importance of early detection and
proper treatment of childhood cancer.
He is actively involved in childhood cancer advocacy, awareness
programmes, research, and events with the message of hope and
survival for childhood cancer.
Professor Eric Bouffet is Professor of Paediatrics in the
University of Toronto, Garron Family Chair in Childhood Cancer
Research and Head of the Neuro-oncology Section in the Division
of Haematology/Oncology at The Hospital for Sick Children. His
research interests are in the area of novel treatments in children
with brain tumours and paediatric neuro-oncology in regions with
limited health care resources. He is author or co-author of over
550 peer-reviewed manuscripts. He was President of SIOP (2016-
2019) and is currently Member of the Board of Directors of the
Union for International Cancer Control (UICC).
Julia Challinor, RN, PhD, MS Education and MS Med
Anthropology participates in multiple international projects in
Africa, Asia and Latin America for childhood cancer and paediatric
oncology nursing. As the International Society of Paediatric
Oncology (SIOP) Secretary General, Dr Challinor chairs the
Governance and Membership Committees and collaborates on
actions related to SIOP's new strategic plan including work with
the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer. She is a long-time
member of the US Association of Paediatric Hematology/Oncology