To address the disease burden and the significant shortage of oncology professionals in selected countries within East Africa, Takeda is working to strengthen the health system, by supporting the development of healthcare leaders and oncology specialists.

Through a consortium comprising AMPATH, Moi University, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, as well as a host of North American academic centres led by Indiana University,  the project is focused on upskilling expertise in clinical and academic settings as well as the development of regional partnerships to develop training curricula, protocols and continuing education to  empower the next generation of health leaders in East Africa.

The initiative aims to help improve the quality of cancer care in the region through:

• the development and implementation of formal training programs for all cadres of healthcare professionals
• the establishment of telemedicine to provide and improve diagnostic capabilities, as well as providing ongoing mentoring and training to medical teams, and weekly virtual tumour boards that regularly enable healthcare professionals at multiple sites to reach more patients who typically wouldn’t have access to this care
• awarding grants to eligible healthcare professionals to participate in continuous medical education (CME) training programs, postgraduate courses, workshops and conferences that build their research capacity, and iv) developing patient information/education materials on cancer management.

Oncology training curricula, which covers the oncology continuum of care from cancer prevention, screening, early diagnostics, optimal treatment, palliative and survivorship care, is delivered both in-person, and through a telemedicine platform, coordinated and led by the AMPATH Oncology Institute. AMPATH faculty also provide mentorship to trainees including Palliative care specialists, Gynecologist Oncologists, Oncology Nurses, Oncology Clinical Officers, Medical Oncologists, Medical Officers, Oncology Pharmacists.

Telemedicine is an innovative method of capacity building for healthcare professionals by using information and communication technologies to support diagnosis, treatment and prevention of cancers, as part of continued education. It is also crucial in delivering clinical expertise and care for patients living in rural areas who find it particularly challenging to reach healthcare facilities. The program facilitates one-on-one consultations with doctors in healthcare facilities outside of urban areas on these platforms and via video calls where possible, enabling patients to receive immediate and high-quality access and care.

Through the Telemedicine platform we have been able to support the extension of training courses, so healthcare providers can consult with doctors during real-time visits with patients. The platforms also increase collaborative trainings within the East, Central and Southern African community of oncology professionals.