By Albert Allotey
Accra, July 10, GNA – The World Child Cancer (WCC) organisation has held its half-year review meeting of 2025 with stakeholders of its Haematology Project to reflect on the progress made over the first six-month period in Ghana.
The meeting, which was hosted in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and supported by Amgen Biotechnology Company also created opportunity for stakeholders to share best practices and discussed plans and activities to enhance childhood cancer treatment.
It was attended by representatives from the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, Ghana College of Pharmacists, Ghana College of Nurses and Midwifery, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, and the Tamale Teaching Hospital.
Dr Ignatius Awinbuno, Director of Allied Health of the Ministry of Health in an address on behalf of the Minister said government alone could not provide cancer care for Ghanaian children and expressed gratitude to the WCC and Amgen Biotechnology for their unwavering support.
“The WCC Team, we say congratulations for how far you have made in terms of progress; and your relentless efforts in coordinating life-saving interventions to ensure Ghanaian children receive timely diagnosis and treatment for cancer,” he stated.
He acknowledged some of the remarkable financial assistance that Ghana had received from Amgen Biotechnology through the WCC to strengthen the health system.
Dr Awinbuno mentioned among the support covering the areas of diagnosis, treatment, donation of medicines to the Ghana Health Service and transportation for vulnerable children and families thereby easing their medical and emotional burdens.
Also, the contribution to capacity building through the training of health professionals for early warning signs to improve detection, provision of scholarships to childhood cancer survivors thereby restoring hope for their integration into society, these and others are all well acknowledged.
“Ghana cherishes your partnership and the contributions that had transformed lives, and that the Ministry and Ghanaians in general are deeply appreciative of your continuous solidarity in our course.”
Dr Awinbuno urged stakeholders to actively engage and strengthen their strategies and come out with recommendations that would shape the future treatment of childhood care in Ghana.
Madam Adwoa Pinamang Boateng Desu, Country Coordinator of the WCC in a welcoming address said the meeting was important for the organisation to get first-hand information, and deeper insight into the realities on the ground.
She said this was to help know the challenges faced by some of the share care and treatment centres and document the information to guide the WCC in refining its strategies to address critical needs of the facilities as well as ensuring sustainable development for improved outcome.
Madam Desu said over the half year of 2025 the WCC and Amgen Biotechnology had provided support to children diagnosed with cancers and their families, and funded childhood cancer survivors, “This is the first of its kind, and it is something we see as giving hope to survivors to help integrate them back into society.”
She said the beautiful aspect of the funding also covered schooling and vocational training for survivors while giving them monthly stipends, accommodation, laptops and tablets, and internet.
GNA
Edited by Benjamin Mensah