for the Lancet NCDI Poverty Commission Study Group
Executive summary"As we embark on this great collective journey, we pledge that no one will be left behind. Recognizing that the dignity of the human person is fundamental, we wish to see the goals and targets met for all nations and peoples and for all segments of society. And we will endeavour to reach the furthest behind first."Transforming our world: the 2030 agenda for sustainable development 1
In 2011, Rwanda's Ministry of Health set a goal of universal access to palliative care by 2020. Toward this audacious egalitarian and humanitarian goal, the Ministry of Health worked with partners to develop palliative care policies and a strategic plan, secure adequate supplies of opioid for the country, initiate palliative care training programs, and begin studying a model for integrating coordinated palliative care into the public health care system at all levels. It also initiated training of a new cadre of home-based care practitioners to provide palliative care in the home. Based on these developments, the goal appears within reach.
Background Cancer treatment facilities are scarce in rural areas of low-income and middle-income countries, where the highest burden of cervical cancer exists. The Butaro Cancer Center of Excellence (BCCOE), in rural Rwanda, is a Rwandan Ministry of Health facility supported by Partners In Health and Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center. The cervical cancer programme includes diagnosis, staging, and treatment. However, because of resource limitations, only 15 patients per month could be referred for radiotherapy to the Uganda Cancer Institute. In this study, we describe cervical cancer treatment at BCCOE and early patient outcomes.
e18086 Background: Despite the rising burden of cancer, opportunities for global health education (GHE) at the fellowship level are lacking in hematology and oncology (HO). The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth (GSMD) is pioneering a supervised one-month elective in Rwanda for HO fellows enrolled in U.S. programs. The goals are to expose fellows to a wider spectrum of disease states, improve clinical acumen, cultural sensitivity, and learn about health delivery in low-resource countries, while providing educational support for the local staff in a multidirectional learning paradigm. Methods: In partnership with the Rwandan Ministry of Health (MOH) and Partners in Health (PIH), GSMD created a one month elective rotation at the Butaro Cancer Center of Excellence (BCCOE) in Rwanda. HO Fellows with an interest in GHE apply to work in the outpatient clinic and inpatient wards in at BCCOE under direct supervision by GSMD faculty to provide input on cancer management including diagnosis, treatment, and chemotherapy administration. Fellows and attendings give lectures to hospital faculty and staff on topics requested by the leadership of BCCOE and participate in weekly telemedicine tumor boards. Fellows are evaluated using ACGME clinical competencies. Feedback from the Rwandan staff is obtained through customized evaluations. Results: The HO fellow gained exposure to advanced cancers including HIV-related malignancies, rare sarcomas and gestational trophoblastic disease, adhered to locally developed staging and treatment pathways, and gained confidence in guiding medical decisions. Fellows and faculty gave didactic presentations and provided bedside teaching. The local MOH and PIH staff gained new insight about approaches to management of complex disease states. This program promoted a multidirectional exchange of ideas related to patient care, disease states, and collaborative research projects. Conclusions: The institution of a global health fellowship elective in oncology has measurable benefits to HO fellows, cancer care providers in Rwanda and American faculty sub-specialists. This novel educational program will help to bridge the gap in global health disparities in a multifaceted approach.
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