Experts for integration of childhood cancers into national strategies for prevention.

KARACHI -- Dr Nizam ul Hasan, a leading child specialists in the country, has sought urgent integration of childhood cancers into national strategies for disease prevention and management.

"There is also dire need for easy access of these kids to free treatment that may address their unique needs, encompassing their health, social and economic status besides their psychological and emotional well-being," he told reporter in an interview. Dr Hasan, also the founder of Child Aid Association (CAA) working for the cause of cancer treatment, reiterated need to incorporate WHO's "Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer" aimed at saving lives of kids and adolescents suffering from cancer, by integrating childhood cancer into national strategies.

Dr Uzma Imam, Head of Paediatric Oncology at the CAA's cancer centre in National Institute of Child Health (NICH-Karachi), said unprecedented gains have been made in the cure rates for childhood cancer in developed countries during the past four decades. This progress reflects steady improvement in treatment protocols, a multi-disciplinary approach to patient care, adequate hospital infrastructure, and psychosocial and economic support for affected families, she said. "Unfortunately children with cancer in low- and middle-income countries die of the disease for one or the other reasons including late diagnosis, malnutrition, treatment abandonment due to high treatment cost and also certain social issues," said the oncologist serving the kids since 1999.

To a query, she agreed that the health professionals entrusted with their care, lack specialised training and this has to be taken into account at every level. The oncologist, however, did mention that an educational program, initiated by the CAA for health professionals, has proved to be an effective and attainable method of combating late diagnosis of the disease. "We are also conscious of the fact that better supportive care is a key factor in improving patient survival hence our outpatients clinic and daycare chemo-bay has to work on...