UCI Applauded For
Effective Pediatric Cancer Treatment
By Adiga Julius and Acaye Henry
The Uganda Cancer Institute has received international recognition
for cost-effective pediatric cancer treatment.
Addressing media briefing at Uganda cancer institute (UCI) the
executive director Dr Jackson Orem, revealed that Uganda was recently recognized
by cancer Journal of American cancer
society as a center for cost effective treatment for childhood cancers
especially Burkit Lymphoma .
According to Dr Orem, a special study was carried on the cost
effectiveness of treating childhood cancers with a focus on Burkitt Lymphoma in
Uganda, a case that has picked the interests of the international community.
According to the study up to 55% of the children, that suffered from burkitt lymphoma, survived two years after treatment.
He noted that for children diagnosed with cancer, the cost of
delivering treatment services has, until recently, been largely assumed as too
expensive and not cost effective, with little to no evidence from low and
middle income countries to support these assumptions.
However a recent study carried out at Uganda cancer institute
has debunked this myth by demonstrating that the treatment costs associated
with pediatric Burkett lymphoma care in Uganda are surprisingly modest and very
cost effective.
“on average ,the cost you need is 1350 dollars to treat a
child ,if get that kind of money in the treatment of burkitt lymphoma ,you
likely to cure that child and you also likely to get value for money Dr Orem explained”.
He said that Uganda cancer institute has been credited for
being a plausible cost effective pediatric treatment center in Africa.
The burden of childhood cancer falls most heavily on low and
middle income countries where 80% of children with cancer reside. Despite high
cure rates of almost 80% in high income countries, the outcomes of children
with cancer in low income countries still remain low with survival ranging from
5% to 40%.
Improvements in childhood cancer outcomes depend heavily on
the ability of health systems to coordinate early accurate case detection and referral
and provision of supportive care for treatment associated complications.
Dr Orem said that such findings provide evidence to policy makers
to prioritize resources to cancer treatment since they are not just to waste.
He hailed ( UCI) partners Fred Hutchinson Cancer center and the government of Uganda for the continued funding of its programs that has led to such a success of being internationally recognized.