The observed prevalence of PID was 0.81/100,000 inhabitants, suggesting considerable underdiagnosis and a need to increase awareness of these conditions in Morocco. The distribution of PIDs was different from that reported in Western countries, with a particularly high proportion of SCID, MHC II deficiencies, hyper-IgE syndrome and autosomal recessive agammaglobulinemia. However, we have now organized a national network, which should improve diagnosis rates in remote regions.
Epidemiology and clinical features of RMS in Moroccan children does not differ from others countries. However, EFS is lower than that reported elsewhere due to occasional lack of availability of drugs, inadequate local control, and abandonment.
Good outcomes for pediatric HL patients can be achieved in LMIC using a multidisciplinary team approach, uniform protocol-based therapy, twinning partnership among oncology units in-country and abroad, and a data collection system to monitor compliance and identify gaps in care.
Delayed diagnosis of pediatric brain tumors is a universal problem, evidenced by many studies in different countries. We propose that a paradigm shift in medical curricula addressing the delayed diagnosis of pediatric brain tumors should occur in medical schools and clinical training programs.
PURPOSE In 2012, the French African Pediatric Oncology Group established the African School of Pediatric Oncology (EAOP), a training program supported by the Sanofi Espoir Foundation’s My Child Matters program. As part of the EAOP, the pediatric oncology training diploma is a 1-year intensive training program. We present this training and certification program as a model for subspecialty training for low- and middle-income countries. METHODS A 14-member committee of multidisciplinary experts finalized a curriculum patterned on the French model Diplôme Inter-Universitaire d’Oncologie Pédiatrique. The program trained per year 15 to 25 physician participants committed to returning to their home country to work at their parent institutions. Training included didactic lectures, both in person and online; an onsite practicum; and a research project. Evaluation included participant evaluation and feedback on the effectiveness and quality of training. RESULTS The first cohort began in October 2014, and by January 2019, 72 participants from three cohorts had been trained. Of the first 72 trainees from 19 French-speaking African countries, 55 (76%) graduated and returned to their countries of origin. Four new pediatric oncology units have been established in Niger, Benin, Central African Republic, and Gabon by the graduates. Sixty-six participants registered on the e-learning platform and continue their education through the EAOP Web site. CONCLUSION This training model rapidly increased the pool of qualified pediatric oncology professionals in French-speaking countries of Africa. It is feasible and scalable but requires sustained funding and ongoing mentoring of graduates to maximize its impact.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.