Every year in Ghana, approximately 1,200 children develop cancer. Unfortunately, only about 20-30% of these cases are diagnosed and receive treatment. The remaining children often remain undiagnosed or face significant delays in treatment due to high costs, misdiagnosis, or lack of access to essential cancer medications. This leads to tragic outcomes, with more than half of these children not surviving, despite many childhood cancers being highly treatable when detected early.
In response to this pressing issue, Ghana has become part of the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines (GPACCM), a significant international initiative aimed at providing children worldwide with access to safe, effective, and quality-assured cancer treatments.
The World Health Organization (WHO) played a crucial role in facilitating Ghana’s involvement in the platform, coordinating with national authorities and international partners to match the country’s needs with the resources and support from the initiative.
This milestone was achieved through funding from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and in collaboration with UNICEF and the PAHO Strategic Fund. The Global Platform employs a collaborative approach to enhance national healthcare systems and foster a sustainable global market for childhood cancer medications.
At an inception meeting held at Ghana’s Ministry of Health, representatives from the Ministry of Health (MoH), Ghana Health Service (GHS), WHO, and St. Jude gathered to officially launch Ghana’s participation in this initiative. The event marked a promising new era for childhood cancer care in the nation.
Honourable Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Ghana’s Minister of Health, expressed his gratitude to WHO and St. Jude for their vital role in this initiative. He stated, “This is a significant opportunity for Ghana. We are grateful to WHO for leading this effort and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that every child diagnosed with cancer receives the necessary care and medications.”
Dr. Frank John Lule, Officer in Charge of WHO Ghana, highlighted WHO’s continued support for Ghana in meeting the platform’s objectives. “WHO will provide technical expertise, strategic guidance, and hands-on support at every level. Beyond access to medicines, our goal is to help Ghana integrate childhood cancer services into the national health system, ensuring equity, continuity, and sustainability,” he explained.
As the initiative progresses, Ghana will conduct a system readiness assessment, focusing on enhancing the country’s capabilities to safely manage and distribute childhood cancer medicines to treatment centers nationwide.
Through WHO’s coordination and leadership, Ghana is making a bold move to bridge the treatment gap, ensuring
Source: https://www.afro.who.int/
