The outcome and cost of a capacity‐building training programme on the early recognition and referral of childhood cancer for healthcare workers in North‐West Cameroon

Afungchwi, Glenn Mbah; Hesseling, Peter; Kouya, Francine; Enow, Sam A.; Kruger, Mariana

doi:10.1002/nop2.598

Cited by 13 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Two of the reports addressed awareness, 7,11 10 addressed diagnosis, registration, and epidemiology, 5,[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] 18 addressed management and outcomes, 7,14,16,[21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35] four addressed supportive care, [36][37][38][39] five addressed palliative care, [40][41][42][43][44] four addressed advocacy and F I G U R E 1 Map of Cameroon showing location of dedicated pediatric oncology units partnerships, 35,37,45,46 and one addressed T&CM 39 (Supporting Information File S1).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Health care professionals know little about childhood cancer types and symptoms; nor do they know where childhood cancer treatment services are located. 11 Low awareness results in late diagnoses, as illustrated by the fact that most patients diagnosed at the various treatment centers across the country are diagnosed with advanced disease (stages III and IV/metastatic disease). 7,30,47 A median delay of 8 months from onset of disease to consultation at the pediatric oncology center was…”

Section: Childhood Cancer Awareness In Cameroonmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…13 In addition to the technical challenges, another major challenge to childhood cancer diagnosis in Cameroon is the lack of capacity to detect early warning signs and thus to refer patients to pediatric oncology units. 7,11 Cancer registration has improved significantly in Cameroon between 2000 and 2020. Statistics from the Yaoundé Cancer Registry for 2004-2006 have been included in the third volume of the International Incidence of Childhood Cancer published by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.…”

Section: Diagnosis Registration and Epidemiologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…54 When focus. 11,17,39,47,57 Capacity building has occurred within the framework of regional and international research groups too, notably through FAPOG, the…”

Section: Capacity Buildingmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Two decades of childhood cancer care in Cameroon: 2000–2020

Afungchwi

Kruger

Kouya

et al. 2021

Pediatric Blood & Cancer

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Background: Before the year 2000, there was no dedicated childhood cancer service in Cameroon. The aim of this study was to investigate the progress made with pediatric oncology care in Cameroon from 2000 to 2020.Method: A literature search was conducted for published articles on childhood cancer in Cameroon and relevant documents, and conference abstracts were reviewed. The articles were analyzed under the themes: awareness, diagnosis, epidemiology, treatment, outcome, advocacy, partnerships, traditional and complementary medicine, palliative care, and capacity building.Results: Low awareness on childhood cancer was addressed with education activities targeting the general population and health care professionals. Cancer diagnosis was achieved with cytology, histology, and simple imaging. Management for common and curable cancers was implemented with use of modified treatment regimens for lowand middle-income settings. Nutritional support was shown to mitigate the effects of malnutrition on treatment toxicity, and support was provided for transportation and accommodation. There was good collaboration between the pediatric oncology professionals nationally and twinning with international partners. Capacity building activities led to the availability of three pediatric oncologists and pediatric oncology-trained nurses. Advocacy nationally led to the support of the Ministry of Health with pediatric oncology-specific priority actions in the latest national cancer control plan. Conclusion:Childhood cancer should receive the necessary attention of health care policymakers in Cameroon. With continued commitment of government, nongovernmental organizations, charities, childhood cancer specialists, patient and parent groups, there should be an improved future for children with cancer in Cameroon.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Childhood Cancer Awareness In Cameroonmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Diagnosis Registration and Epidemiologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…54 When focus. 11,17,39,47,57 Capacity building has occurred within the framework of regional and international research groups too, notably through FAPOG, the…”

Section: Capacity Buildingmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Two decades of childhood cancer care in Cameroon: 2000–2020

Afungchwi

Kruger

Kouya

et al. 2021

Pediatric Blood & Cancer

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“…Health services and Health Ministries should implement or strengthen public health measures to raise awareness of cancer in children and adolescents. National 'Early Warning Signs' programmes are proven to be effective at encouraging parents and local healthcare providers to seek advice and early referral for children with possible cancer [11][12][13][14].…”

Section: Mitigation Strategymentioning

confidence: 99%

The threat of the COVID-19 pandemic on reversing global life-saving gains in the survival of childhood cancer: a call for collaborative action from SIOP, IPSO, PROS, WCC, CCI, St Jude Global, UICC and WHPCA

Pritchard‐Jones¹,

Abib²,

Esiashvili³

et al. 2021

ecancer

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The COVID-19 pandemic poses an unprecedented health crisis in all socio-economic regions across the globe. While the pandemic has had a profound impact on access to and delivery of health care by all services, it has been particularly disruptive for the care of patients with lifethreatening noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as the treatment of children and young people with cancer.The reduction in child mortality from preventable causes over the last 50 years has seen childhood cancer emerge as a major unmet health care need. Whilst survival rates of 85% have been achieved in high income countries, this has not yet been translated into similar outcomes for children with cancer in resource-limited settings where survival averages 30%. Launched in 2018, by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer (GICC) is a pivotal effort by the international community to achieve at least 60% survival for children with cancer by 2030.The WHO GICC is already making an impact in many countries but the disruption of cancer care during the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to set back this global effort to improve the outcome for children with cancer, wherever they may live.As representatives of the global community committed to fostering the goals of the GICC, we applaud the WHO response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular we support the WHO's call to ensure the needs of patients with life threatening NCDs including cancer are not compromised during the pandemic. Here, as collaborative partners in the GICC, we highlight specific areas of focus that need to be addressed to ensure the immediate care of children and adolescents with cancer is not disrupted during the pandemic; and measures to sustain the development of cancer care so the long-term goals of the GICC are not lost during this global health crisis.

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Survey of the use of traditional and complementary medicine among children with cancer at three hospitals in Cameroon

Afungchwi

Kruger

Hesseling

et al. 2022

Pediatric Blood & Cancer

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Introduction:There is lack of diagnostic and treatment resources with variable access to childhood cancer treatment in low-and middle-income countries (LMIC), which may lead to subsequent poor survival. The primary aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and types of traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM) used in Cameroon. Secondarily, we explored determinants of T&CM use, associated costs, perceived benefits and harm, and disclosure of T&CM use to medical team. Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional survey among parents and carers of children younger than 15 years of age who had a cancer diagnosis and received cancer treatment at three Baptist Mission hospitals between November 2017 and February 2019.Results: Eighty participants completed the survey. Median patient age was 8.1 years (IQR4.1-11.1). There was significant availability (90%) and use (67.5%) of T&CM, whereas 24% thought T&CM would be good for cancer treatment. Common T&CM remedies included herbs and other plant remedies or teas taken by mouth, prayer for healing purposes and skin cutting. Living more than five hours away from the treatment center (P = 0.030), anticipated costs (0.028), and a habit of consulting a traditional healer when sick (P = 0.006) were associated with the use of T&CM. T&CM was mostly paid for in cash (53.7%) or provided free of charge (29.6%). Of importance was the fact that nearly half (44%) did not want to disclose the use of TM to their doctor. Conclusion:Pediatric oncology patients used T&CM before and during treatment but were unlikely to disclose its use to the child's health care team.

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The outcome and cost of a capacity‐building training programme on the early recognition and referral of childhood cancer for healthcare workers in North‐West Cameroon

Cited by 13 publications

References 22 publications

Two decades of childhood cancer care in Cameroon: 2000–2020

Two decades of childhood cancer care in Cameroon: 2000–2020

The threat of the COVID-19 pandemic on reversing global life-saving gains in the survival of childhood cancer: a call for collaborative action from SIOP, IPSO, PROS, WCC, CCI, St Jude Global, UICC and WHPCA

Survey of the use of traditional and complementary medicine among children with cancer at three hospitals in Cameroon

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