The unit is to enable the hospital to provide proper medical care to especially, children diagnosed of various cancer-related diseases within the hospital’s operational areas.

To kick-start the process, the organisation organised a four-day intensive training on detection and treatment of childhood cancers for 25 critical health workers of the hospital.

The participants made up of medical officers, physician assistants, pharmacists and pediatric specialist nurses, among others, were exposed to cancer pathology, childhood cancers and their common types of diagnostics.

Additionally, they were taken through chemotherapy, radiation and surgery as well as chemotherapy drug extravasation and its side effects.

The training was done with support from the Ministry of Health, Ghana Health Service (GHS) and other partners.

Subsequently, the organisation would fully fund the training of some key medical staff of the hospital to undertake fellowship programme at some specialised medical institutions to become fellows capable of manning the unit.

Commitment

An interview with the Daily Graphic at the end of the training last Friday, the Data Manager, World Child Cancer, Emmanuel Amankwah, said the training formed part of the commitment of the organisation towards helping health facilities to manage childhood cancers.

He noted that the training was intended to provide knowledge as well as build the capacity of the participants so as to detect cancers early and refer patients when necessary for the needed treatment.

He noted that in a year, between Korle Bu and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (TTHs), about 450 children with cancer were attended to although statistics pointed to the fact about 1,300 children were affected with cancer yearly in the country.

He said “this is why the organisation has come in to ensure that health facilities are well-equipped with both human resources and the needed equipment to improve the treatment of children with cancer”.

Lesson burden

The Administrator of the hospital, Samuel A. Atuba, said children with cancer were on the increase and that the training had come at the opportune time to equip the staff to easily detect and treat childhood cancers.

He noted that since it was the organisation’s intention to set up an Oncology Unit in the hospital after going through all processes required, the new unit would reduce the financial burden of patients being referred to the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) and other facilities for treatment.

While commending the World Child Cancer for the training, he noted that the organisation’s resolve to fully set up an Oncology Unit in the hospital would be a huge sigh of relief to patients and the management of the facility.