Eliminating Disparities from Pediatric
Oncology in Pakistan with Collaboration of Sanofi Espoir Foundation “My Child Matters”
Grant- The Indus Hospital, Karachi Pakistan.
By Shenila Anwarali
The Indus Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
Pakistan is a developing country with a
population of more than 21 Million making it the world’s sixth most populous
country. In such country with various uncertainty (political, financial and the
list could go on) treating your children with any disease none the less Cancer
with optimum health care can only be stated as wishful desires.
There are approximately 8000 new cases of
pediatric cancer in Pakistan out which less than 50 % reach to the hospital for
treatment with progressive disease with 17 centers treating pediatric cancers.
The Indus Hospital is the only philanthropic organization that treats patient
and families without any cost.
Keeping the increasing numbers of pediatric
cancer cases and limited trained material and human resources in mind The Indus
Hospital Pediatric Complex took the initiative of training and building
capacity of the health care workers with the same vision that “No child should
die of cancer”. To do so we, living in the developing country did not have
optimum resource, but as it is said that “When there is a will there is a Way” and
that Way was guided by Sanofi Espoir Foundation Grant on My Child Matters. The
Educational grant was awarded to The Indus Hospital formerly known as the Children
Cancer Hospital in 2009 to enhance Pediatric Oncology all over Pakistan.
Main Objective:
The main objective to obtain this grant was
to remove disparities in care provided among pediatric patients with cancer. For
this purpose five organizations willing to participant in the race to uplift
Pediatric Oncology care level were taken under the wings of The Indus Hospital.
Since then the Educational team comprising of one Manager and two Clinical
Nurse Instructor and one Pediatric Oncologist in the supervision of the Medical
Director made it their mission to create awareness about Pediatric Oncology
and ensure that healthcare workers
providing quality care. Under this grant The Indus Hospital provides the
following Educational activities for Pediatric Oncology health care provider.
For nurses training we have:
Till date we have successfully trained 300 plus
nurses from our Two week course which is internationally recognized which is
offered And 15 participants have gained
specialization through Pediatric Oncology Nursing Diploma. And few participants
have also visited The Indus Hospital for Observership.
Other Various Training:
Other training includes training for
doctors. We also provide training to pharmacists to make safe chemotherapy with
all due precautions. Since Pakistan doesn’t have its own cancer registry The
Indus Hospital has formulated its own data base and trained personals to
operate it in order to obtain maximum data of the patients coming in for care.
Outcome:
Vast difference can be observed in partnering
organizations. The learnt knowledge is well implemented by the nurses and major
changes have been visualized. The nurses in many area have completely changed
the setup, have implemented infection control practices, improved quality of
care provided, educated other fellow nurses about basic concepts of Pediatric
Oncology care, have stood up for patients and families rights to complete
treatment and its understanding and also established various educational
session for patients and family. This has eventually resulted in better
prognosis and outcome, enhanced compliance to treatment and satisfied patient
and family care. The Pharmacists prepare drugs with all precaution and correct
dosages under Bio safety cabinets. Data operator collect all the essential data
to see the progress and make further improvement. Moreover many other organizations
are now willing to have partnership, either to strengthen or establish
Pediatric Oncology setup in other areas of Pakistan.
With all the efforts put forward and great support
of Sanofi Espoir Foundation, Pakistan is making progress in removing disparities in the
care for Pediatric Oncology patients. With all good hopes we are looking
forward for further changes and positive improvements at all levels!
Best!
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