SNF is supporting World Child Cancer UK in its mission to transform childhood cancer care across sub-Saharan Africa by investing in the next generation of pediatric oncology specialists, addressing the root causes of delayed diagnosis, mismanagement, and preventable deaths among children with cancer.
In many parts of sub-Saharan Africa, survival rates for children with cancer remain below 30%, compared to over 80% in high-income countries. One of the primary reasons for this gap is the critical shortage of trained professionals: most countries in the region have fewer than 10 pediatric oncologists serving millions of children. As a result, cancers are frequently misdiagnosed, diagnosed too late, or left untreated altogether.
In response, World Child Cancer UK is implementing a training initiative to build long-term, systemic capacity in pediatric oncology, in alignment with the World Health Organization’s Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer.
With SNF’s support as part of its Global Health Initiative (GHI), two pediatricians from underserved countries will complete an accredited Pediatric Oncology Fellowship at Ghana’s Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, one of West Africa’s leading cancer centers. The fellowship includes hands-on clinical training, mentorship in the field, and a three-month international rotation at Tata Memorial Centre in India. In parallel, 15 nurses from Ghana and neighboring countries will undertake a one-year, regionally accredited pediatric oncology nursing course developed in partnership with international experts.
All participants are committed to returning to their home communities for at least two years after completing the training, where they will lead local care delivery, and mentor peers.
World Child Cancer UK’s model builds on over a decade of impact in Ghana, where training efforts have led to a fivefold increase in effective diagnosis of childhood cancer, significant reductions in treatment abandonment, and improved survival rates for common childhood cancers, from 20% to 65%. This initiative leverages those proven results to scale specialist care across the region.
Ultimately, this program aims to expand access to quality care for thousands of children each year and reduce the emotional and financial burden on families caused by delayed or inadequate treatment. SNF’s support enables World Child Cancer UK to scale a sustainable, locally led model that strengthens health systems and gives every child with cancer a fair chance at survival, regardless of where they are born.