Medics to be trained in cancer therapy

At least 40 Rwandan doctors and nurses from various health facilities in the country have been selected to undergo training in specialised cancer treatment, which will be the first national baseline training in cancer.The week-long training programme, which starts at the end of the month, will take place at Rwinkwavu Hospital in the Eastern Province.The objective of the training is to impart general principles of quality cancer treatment, care and approaches to diagnosis for major adult and paediatric cancers prevalent in the country.A survey conducted in 2010 revealed that a total of 2,476 cancer cases were registered in Rwanda with 312 being children aged below 18 years.Dr. Neo Tapela, special advisor to the DG of Clinical services on non-communicable diseases , said that the ministry has been a pioneer in many health initiatives including cancer. “This training represents a major and proud milestone in expanding access to quality cancer prevention and care in Rwanda. It is one component of the many MoH-spearheaded collaborative efforts that are taking place to improve prevention, treatment and care for Non Communicable deseases (NCDs) in Rwanda,” she said. “PIH/IMB is proud to be a key partner of the MoH in this important work.”Tapela added that the training is part of development of a strengthened national network in the provision of quality cancer care and the first step in more intensive and longitudinal cancer-related training programmes that have been planned to develop a multidisciplinary cohort of skilled cancer clinicians in the country.According to Doctor Jean De Dieu Ngirabega,the Director of Clinical Services in Ministry of Health, two medics would travel abroad to study radiotherapy, stressing that the country would also get a Rwandan Oncologist who is currently finalising his studies.The seven-day training programme will be conducted by oncologists and specialist nurses from international institutions such as Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and University of Stellenbosch of the United States and South Africa, respectively.Among the facilities that will serve as national cancer referral sites is Butaro Hospital, which will become a Cancer Centre of Excellence before the end of this year.

National

Medics to be trained in cancer therapy