Partners for Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment in Africa Launches First Phase

Abstract

The new, ASCP-led Partners for Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment in Africa, a Clinton Global Initiative Commitment to Action, has launched its first phase: providing patients in underserved areas of Sub-Saharan Africa access to rapid cancer diagnostics and appropriate care and treatment. In mid-January, the coalition delivered histotechnology equipment to Butaro District Hospital, in the city of Butaro in northern Rwanda. The equipment enables rapid diagnostics and review of patient material for therapy with a team of pathologists in the United States. Currently, there is no permanent pathologist in Butaro. Clinicians rely on either static image telepathology, visiting pathologists from the United States, or visits from local Rwandan pathologists, which takes them away from providing services in their own communities. Automated histopathology and telepathology systems are delivered to the Butaro District Hospital in the city of Butaro, Rwanda. Equipment was rolled into the lab space on logs. During this initial phase, four other hospitals in Rwanda also now have access to the equipment that enables them to share access to rapid diagnoses and advance consultants. These hospitals are the Central University Hospital of Kigali, Rwanda …