31 Jan Improving Equitable Access to Quality Treatment and Care for Children with Cancer, with a Focus on Burkitt Lymphoma in Nepal
Ramesh Gupta Memorial Trust (RGMT) has partnered with World Child Cancer (WCC) to implement a five-year project (2023-2028) aimed at improving equitable access to treatment and care for children with cancer in Nepal, with a focus on Burkitt Lymphoma (BL). The project is supported by an Amgen grant and focuses on increasing diagnosis rates, enhancing treatment access, and reducing abandonment of care.
Total Project Budget: Nrs. 6,95,87,462
Main Sector: Health
Sub Sector: Children
Project sites: Bagmati, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur, Kaski, Morang and Chitwan
Key Project Goals:
- Diagnosing more children with cancer in Nepal.
- Improving survival rates of Burkitt Lymphoma patients through access to Rituximab.
- Reducing treatment refusal and abandonment in partner hospitals.
- Enhancing access to essential cancer medicines in targeted hospitals.
Key Activities & Impact:
- 1,500 children to benefit from improved diagnosis and treatment.
- Training and awareness campaigns for early cancer detection.
- Infrastructure support, including biosafety cabinets for shared care centers.
- Specialized lymphoma training for healthcare professionals on the safe use of Rituximab.
- Scholarships for cancer survivor children to support their education.
- Family and emotional support programs for children and their guardians.
This initiative aligns with the WHO’s Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer, aiming to increase the survival rate of pediatric cancer patients to at least 60% by 2030. By strengthening Nepal’s healthcare system and ensuring access to life-saving treatments, RGMT and WCC are committed to improving the quality of life for children battling cancer.
