Education for Early Detection & Treatment of Burkitt's Lymphoma Determination of Environmental/Familial Factors Associated With Occurrence

Unlike other major health problems of concern in Kenya, cancer is yet to be well defined and addressed. Paediatric oncology is still at its debut and although half a dozen general hospitals (mainly in Nairobi) out of 449 countrywide have the capacity to provide oncology services, only 12 specialists are available in the country. There are 2 paediatric oncologists, 6 haemato-pathologists/oncologists, 4 paediatric surgeons and 4 radio-therapists/oncologists who also render services to other non-paediatric cases and serve 35 million Kenyans. Specialized nursing care in this area now being developed in a few facilities that offer paediatric cancer care. With a GNDP per capital income of US $ 1396 (PPP), a gross health-care budget of 8.1% GDP and a under 15 year population of 15 million (42%) faced with other health problems, development of paediatric oncology in Kenya remains a big challenge. Burkitt's lymphoma, a neoplasm found mainly in the paediatric age-group is one of the most common childhood malignancies in Kenya and constitutes about 40% of all childhood malignancies. In this situation, efforts to promote early detection and treatment will play an important role in improving the outcome of cancer including Burkitt's lymphoma, as health-care services undergo development.

Main Objectives of the Project

• To register and document the occurrence of Burkitt's lymphoma as reported in health-care facilities in Nyanza & Western provinces 
• To determine familial and environmental factors associated with the occurrence of Burkitt's lymphoma amongst communities in Nyanza & Western provinces 
• To assess existing level of knowledge of Burkitt's lymphoma among patients, their families, neighbors and communities by conducting a survey
• To educate patients, families, their neighbors, communities and health care workers to recognize Burkitt's lymphoma
• To assess changes in health seeking behaviour and referral patterns in these communities as the project progresses
• To improve the outcome of Burkitt's lymphoma in health care facilities

Benefits of the Project:

• Education targeting case neighborhoods/communities and health workers has raised the level of awareness on Burkitt's lymphoma in 24 districts and due to a better understanding of the disease, patients and their families are getting more psychosocial support and sympathy from their communities
• Removal of stigma associated with lack of knowledge of Burkitt's lymphoma among communities in the project sites
• Support to some of the needy patients/families who are unable to attend follow up clinic appointments due to lack of money for transport to the hospital
• Collection of data on the occurrence of Burkitt's lymphoma and thus highlighting the need for facilities to cater for cancer patients is ongoing
• Training of 525 health-care workers has contributed to raising awareness of the occurrence of Burkitt's lymphoma and thus brought into their practice a higher index of suspicion for the problem to the benefits of patients
• Identification of areas with a high incidence of Burkitt's lymphoma and thus a need for setting up accessible treatment facilities (health-care services) in the project sites is ongoing
• Provision of drugs for some Burkitt's lymphoma cases seen in hospitals known to have the required patient care capacity