IMA works with faith-based and public health care facilities across Tanzania to improve Burkitt's Lyphoma (BL) care and treatment to reduce the number of children that die once they have been diagnosed. IMA does this by conducting trainings to improve the diagnosis and treatment of BL patients. IMA also supplies Tanzanian hospitals with the necessary chemotherapy drugs.
Burkitt's Lymphoma (BL) is a common childhood cancer affecting young children in malaria stricken areas across Tanzania. BL most often appears as a cancerous tumor in the jaw, face, eye or abdomen and if misdiagnosed or diagnosed too late, a child could be disfigured or die. Unfortunately, in Tanzania chemotherapy drugs are not commonly found at health care facilities nor do many health care workers have the appropriate skills to diagnosis or care for BL patients.
BL is a painful yet highly treatable cancer, and early detection and treatment are the most important steps to fighting this disease. Currently, nearly 40 faith-based and public hospitals in 12 regions throughout Tanzania benefit from the program through access to chemotherapy drugs and proper diagnosis and patient care training. Recognizing the impact that access to treatment can have on children and their families affected with BL additional funding can continue program expansion.
Approximately 350 children will benefit from the chemotherapy drugs purchased. In addition, health care workers will benefit from training on BL diagnosis and proper patient care. The support will continue the on-going BL Treatment Program through raising awareness and ensuring access to the appropriate chemotherapy drugs. By training additional health care workers more children will have access to timely and appropriate diagnosis and care.
