A Continuous Paediatric Oncology Care Unit

In Senegal, 800 new cases of paediatric cancers are anticipated annually. The paediatric oncology unit of the CHU of Dakar treats more than 100 children from Senegal and neighbor countries. Currently available protocols make it possible to treat 80% of diagnosed cancers and to cure more than half of the hospitalized children. Failures are often due to late diagnosis (50% of deaths), aggressive nature of the cancer (25% of cases), the remainder being chemo toxicity in general and infections in particular.

Main Objectives of the Project:

General Objective:

• To decrease mortality related to chemo toxicity and infections 

Specific Objectives:

• Expand treatment to at least 50% of patients who develop cancer, by improved speed of diagnosis
• Monitor treatment
• The quality of supportive care
• Pain management 
• Prevention of nosocomial infections 
• Management of febrile neutropemia
• Work structures
• Training of personnel
• The information and education of the children and their parents
• The psychological support of the patients and families
• Involvement of the ancillary medical staff in research
• The decentralization of the paediatric oncology services in Senegal

Benefits of the Project:

• A care unit has been developed
• Work conditions and hygiene have improved
• The quality and speed of diagnosis have been enhanced 
• Supportive care and the monitoring of the patient is optimized
• Pain is managed
• Chemo toxicity and the risk of infections are minimized
• The personnel is trained, involved in research and remunerated appropriately 
• Children with cancer and their families profit from improved quality of care, comfort and psychological support, educational and information material
• The unit is fully operational and could be used as model for other units throughout Senegal

Location