Novartis, ASCP and ACS join forces to fight cancer in Ethiopia, Uganda and Tanzania - Seite 3

ACS will be implementing ChemoSafe, a comprehensive approach to promoting the safe handling and administration of chemotherapy and quality service provision to patients in Sub-Saharan Africa.  As part of ChemoSafe, ACS will coordinate the development and implementation of a training and facility-strengthening program designed with the Oncology Nursing Society to improve safe handling and administration of chemotherapy, including the use of protective equipment like exhaust hoods to protect staff from exposure while mixing chemotherapy drugs. ACS will also be working with peripheral hospitals to strengthen systems for collecting and transporting biopsy specimens to the central IHC labs to improve the quality and sample turnaround time. The funding from Novartis will support the program pilot launch in Ethiopia and scaling of the program in Uganda and Tanzania.

Targeted hospitals
The plan is to implement these initiatives in the following hospitals in Ethiopia, Tanzania and Uganda:

In Ethiopia, Tikur Anbessa Teaching Hospital (Black Lion) in Addis Ababa is the only comprehensive cancer center in the country. To address the lack of access to cancer services, the government has reactivated its immunohistochemistry program, and has launched an ambitious breast cancer treatment expansion program for twelve additional hospitals. The model is expected to be an essential stepping stone toward Ethiopia's plan to open five new comprehensive cancer centers by 2020.

In Tanzania, the Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI) is the only specialty cancer center in the country. ACS is working with oncologists at ORCI through the African Cancer Coalition project to adapt the National Comprehensive Cancer Network's cancer treatment guidelines for Sub-Saharan Africa. A focus in the coming years will be on strengthening forecasting and procurement of chemotherapy. Muhimbili National Hospital is a 1,500-bed, tertiary care center in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, serving more than 5 million people. It is the primary public hospital that is responsible for diagnosing patients with cancer prior to treatment. Although staffed with pathologists and technicians, access to sustained reagents for immunohistochemistry is an ongoing challenge.