Caribbean countries, limited in the care they offer for specialized nature of childhood cancer, have welcomed an initiative involving the University of the West Indies (UWI), The Hospital for Sick Children in Canada, and the Centre for Global Child Health.
Health Minister John Boyce, speaking at the launch of the SickKids-Caribbean Initiative, said that due to the specialised nature of childhood cancer, Caribbean countries were limited in the care that they offered.
“Our shortcomings include limited paediatric pathological expertise to assist in diagnosis, staging and treatment modules; availability of specific drugs which may be imported to treat particular cancers which require interventions; and the lack of a targeted linear accelerator which will reduce the side effects of radiation therapy. The establishment of the Shaw Family Telemedicine Room, therefore, addresses some of our limitations.”
The Telemdicine Room at the UWI Clinical Skills Building, will house the SickKids-Caribbean Initiative, launched in Toronto, Canada, earlier this year, and works with stakeholders across the English-speaking Caribbean to improve the outcomes and quality of life for children with cancer and blood disorders, as well as their families.
Boyce said the initiative provide the delivery of clinical care to persons who would otherwise require transfer overseas for consultation.
“The health profile of children in the English-speaking Caribbean reflects a picture of overall good health. This is supported by the child health programmes which support the healthy growth and development of children under five years of age and aim to protect them from vaccine-preventable diseases through immunization.
“Unfortunately, there are some medical conditions to which children and adolescents may be susceptible which cannot be prevented, treated or cured by vaccines or other low cost interventions.
“These may result from genetic predisposition and autoimmune response, environmental factors and in many cases, unknown causes. Amongst such diseases are diabetes, respiratory illnesses… mental and physical disabilities, lupus, sickle cell disease and cancer,” he said.
Boyce said that there was an average of eight to 10 childhood cancer cases annually in Barbados.
“The average survival rate is 75 per cent and this represents the cases that are cured,” Boyce said, noting that each case of childhood cancer was “a very personal tragedy that can strike any family with children at anytime and anywhere.
“This facility offers connectivity with overseas medical specialists that will assist doctors resident here in Barbados with continuing education and offer support to parents and doctors managing sick children.
He said family and medical staff would have access to a team of medical experts in the diagnosis and treatment options that are available”.
