Sanofi Global Health Unit in Partnership with King’s College London: An integrated approach to improving women’s health in tertiary centres in Livingstone and Ndola, Zambia
King’s College London is supporting Zambia’s fight against breast and cervical cancer by mapping services at two new regional sites. The initiative provides training recommendations to match Lusaka’s cancer care standards, aligning with the National Strategic Cancer Plan to decentralize treatment and improve access in underserved regions.
SEE ALL PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
Objectives
- Facilitate the mapping of existing cancer services (all modalities) in Livingstone and Ndola, selected locations for the creation of two new regional cancer centers
- Build a human resource development plan to allow establishment of specialist cancer services.
Zambia has a high incidence of both breast and cervical cancer, accounting for 53% of all cancers and 48% of cancer deaths in Zambian women in 2020. Poor outcomes are driven by multiple factors, including low numbers of all specialists on the cancer pathway and centralisation of services in the capital, Lusaka. This leaves access to treatment a major challenge to a significant proportion of the population.
King’s College London (a team drawn from the Institute of Cancer Policy and King’s Global Health Partnership) mapped services and capabilities at two new regional sites to produce the recommendations on training/development required to develop a basic package of cancer services analogous to those in Lusaka. This will feed into the technical working group which is leading the implementation of the latest update of the Zambian National Strategic Cancer Plan, and the development of sustainable cancer care systems in the two new regional provinces of Zambia.
Results and milestones
Site visits occurred in Lusaka, Ndola and Livingstone in 2023, including meetings with the Ministry of Health and National Cancer Control Strategic Plan committee. A total of 52 Zambian health workers, from all cancer disciplines, engaged across the three sites. Workshops with the healthcare workforce occurred, leading to i) the co-creation of an oncology surgery education and training plan, and ii) recommendations for regular virtual multidisciplinary team meetings between the three sites.
A survey on multidisciplinary team engagement virtually and in-person was conducted with 40 healthcare workers in preparation for a dedicated workshop on workforce planning held in Ndola in January 2024. The 2-day workshop considered the human capital, infrastructure and equipment needs to ensure the efficient functioning of the expanded cancer services. The workshop was attended by 35 Zambian health workers, along with 7 attendees from King’s College London, UK and 8 from MD Anderson Cancer Center, Texas, US.
A final report of the project’s findings is in preparation, anticipated to be provided to the Zambia Ministry of Health in 2024. This will list the recommendations for human personal, infrastructure and equipment for the new and expanded cancer centres to ensure they can meet the needs of the communicates they serve.
Geographic Reach
- Africa
Disease Area
- Non-communicable diseases
Partner organizations
King's College London
Geographic Reach
Africa
- Zambia
Disease Area
Non-communicable diseases
- Cancer
- Breast Cancer
- Cervical Cancer