Julia Heita in Windhoek Namibia
The Merck foundation remains committed in improving the cancer care in Africa with its Cancer Access program training oncologists across Africa. Among the countries that have benefited so far from the program are: Gambia, Seira Leone, Burundi, Liberia, Guinea, Conakry, Central African Republic, Chad and Niger.
The program, which is being done in partnership with African First Ladies and Ministries of Health is meant to improve cancer care across the continent through increasing the number of oncologists across the continent.
Merck Foundation Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Rasha Kelej said her organisation aims at having competent health care workers in Africa.
“I am proud of our success to reshape and advance the public cancer care sector and to increase the limited number of oncologists by more than 70 new oncologists to be the first in 24 countries and to form a Multidisciplinary Oncology Care teams in many countries consist of; Medical, Surgery, Paediatrics, Gynaecology, Radiation Oncologists, Nursing, Pathologist and Radiology Technician,” she said.
“We are definitely making history in Africa through training the first oncologists and first cancer care teams in many countries such as; The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Burundi, Liberia, Guinea Conakry, Central African Republic, Chad, and Niger. Our key objective is to provide quality and equitable care to patients who never had anyone to care for them before. We are committed to lead Africa to a better future through transforming the landscape of Cancer care in the continent. We will soon scale up and strengthen our efforts and activities in more countries across Africa.”
In a statement released on World Cancer Day, the First Lady of Burundi Angeline Ndayishimiye expressed her pleasure in the ongoing program that has been contributing positively to the cancer response in Africa.
“I am very happy that as a part of our partnership, Merck Foundation is providing specialty training to the first-ever oncologist from Burundi,”
She said they will be enrolling more doctors in the upcoming batches in various specialties of Oncology, with the aim to establish a skilled team, able to improve access to quality and equitable cancer care in the country.
Similarly, Zimbabwean First Lady Auxilia Mnangagwa said:
“Merck Foundation is going to provide the valuable specialty oncology training to young Zimbabwean doctors. We are very excited about it as it will empower healthcare professionals in our country with advanced training and medical expertise in overall oncology care. This will help the people of our country to fight this deadly disease.’’ The Merck Foundation’s Cancer Access Program was launched in 2016. It provides one-, two- and three-years fellowship, Master Degree, and Diploma programs for African doctors in India, Egypt, Kenya, and Malaysia. Recently it introduced 2 years online PG Diploma in Cancer and Clinical Oncology from the UK.