By Melissa Adde | Project Coordinator
Dr. Roberto Ferrara, an INCTR faculty member, recently spent three weeks on the children’s cancer ward at St. Mary’s Hospital, Lacor in Uganda to work on INCTR’s on-going project in Burkitt lymphoma. The hospital sees 80 new children with this cancer a year, but sadly many come too late with such advanced disease that they cannot be treated effectively. St. Mary’s Hospital is the only major center in Northern Uganda able to treat this type of cancer. Because their results are so promising – over 70% of children who reach the hospital in time are cured, Dr. Ferrara assisted the staff and parents of children in creating an educational film about Burkitt lymphoma. This will be widely distributed to health care personnel and the public in the region.
The film was made in the local language, Acholi. Dr. Felix Bongamyn, an intern in training in pediatrics at St Mary’s, underlined the importance of early diagnosis. As Dr. Felix stated, “without specific treatment, Burkitt lymphoma can progress very quickly and the child can die in a few weeks”. He went on to say that “even a few days can make a difference” to a child’s outcome so that it is important not to delay coming to the hospital for treatment as soon as initial signs are noticed. He emphasized that Burkitt lymphoma is not caused by an “evil spirit” – as many Africans believe, nor is it a punishment for failing to appease a tribal God. It is a cancer that can be cured, if diagnosed and treated as soon as possible.
Sister Claire, the nurse who cares for the children, spoke to parents about the need for their children to complete all planned treatment in order to have the best chance for long-term survival. Parents whose children were successfully treated recounted their personal experiences. One father told the story of how his child was paralyzed as a result of Burkitt lymphoma, but after treatment, the child could walk again.
Volunteers like Dr. Ferrara, who assist doctors, nurses and parents to “get the message out” that Burkitt lymphoma can be cured, are a valuable resource to this project. And, without the dedication of the staff at St. Mary’s Hospital and without their willingness – along with parents of children affected by this cancer - to participate in the production of the film, such a powerful and effective way of “spreading the word” to others in Northern Uganda would not have been possible. Most importantly, without your donations, the staff at St. Mary’s Hospital would not have been able to treat and cure so many children with Burkitt lymphoma. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this project and given children with this cancer the hope for cure!
By Muheez Durosinmi | Principal Project Leader at OAUTHC
By Dr. Emma Seaford | Volunteer Pediatrician, St Mary's Hospital
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