Merck Oncology Fellowship Program

Merck Oncology Fellowship Program focuses on building professional cancer care capacity with the aim to increase the limited number of oncologists in Africa.

The objective the of the program is to improve access to cancer care solutions by developing a Multidisciplinary Oncology Care team in each country (like Medical, Surgery, Pediatric, Gynae, Radiation Oncologists, Radiation Technician, Nursing, Pathologist) as an integrated team approach can lead to better outcomes.

The Oncology Fellowship Program provides One, two- and three-years fellowship and master’s degree programs in India, Egypt, Kenya and Malaysia in partnership with African Ministries of Health, Local Governments and Academia

Impact

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Merck Foundation Alumni

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Dr. Nihad Salifu
Paediatric Medical Oncology Fellow
Merck Foundation Alumni, 2017
Ghana

“Ghana has a population of about 26 million with a cancer rate of 109 per 100,000 people, and yet there is no single trained medical oncologist in the whole country. The duty of medical oncologist is handled by other specialties such as radiation oncologist, general surgeons, genitourinary surgeons, and haematologists among others. This makes the care of patients very difficult because these doctors are not formally trained in medical oncology.” Says Nihad Salifu.

In addition, there are only three paediatric oncologists in the whole country, and our cancer cure rate is very low in children- it is about 20% when cure rates are approaching 80% in many developed parts of the world.” Added Salifu.
Salifu is one of the first candidates of the Merck Africa Oncology Fellowship Program says,” This huge human resource deficit in childhood cancer care is the main motivating factor for me applying to be considered for this training. I will benefit from this great opportunity being given to our country by Merck Foundation. The Merck Fellowship Program will add to the few paediatric oncologists in Ghana, to ease the workload, improve quality of patient care, add to the number of voices advocating for these patients and to the number of trainers of health workers delivering services including awareness creation. It will also strengthen the team effort in the area of research and improve the paediatric cancer registry.”

Dr. Christina V. Malichewe
Adult Medical Oncology Fellow
Merck Foundation Alumni, 2017

Tanzania
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“Cancer is a growing concern in Tanzania, and limited facilities and few healthcare providers against the high rising number of patients diagnosed at advanced stages pose a great challenge to a developing country like Tanzania. Unfortunately, there are only two medical oncologists in a country of approximately 50 million people, one studied in Italy and another in China. We need more specialized oncologists in this field. Thank you, Merck Foundation for starting this program!! However, it is only through unique opportunities such as the Merck Africa Oncology Fellowship Program we can make the needed change in our societies to improve patient access to cancer care.” Christina Malichewe said.

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Dr. Abdulkadir M, Ethiopia
Paediatric Medical Oncology Fellow
Merck Foundation Alumni, 2018

Ethiopia

“I am a faculty member of Addis Ababa University working at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital department of paediatrics and child health hemato-oncology unit. I am general paediatrician serving kids suffering from cancer with no additional formal training in paediatric oncology. Merck Africa Fellowship Program will help me to update and upgrade my knowledge and skill in Paediatric Oncology; this helps me to give the appropriate and improved quality of care to cancer patients and helps us to expand the service.

Ethiopia is a country with approximately 100 million population. Currently, the country has three oncologists that serve the stated population. As I am faculty in the university, it will help the country to improve training program by strengthening and expanding Paediatric oncology fellowship program; this will increase the number of paediatric oncologists and improve access for kids with cancer to get timely improved and appropriate care.”

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Dr. Alemayehu Natnael
Adult Medical Oncology Fellow
Merck Foundation Alumni, 2018

Ethiopia

Dr. Natnael said “Merck Africa Oncology Fellowship Program is a Golden path to tackle the growing challenge posed by Cancer in Africa. I was delighted to know about and to be part of the fellowship program on oncology that Merck Foundation is planning to give. By completing this fellowship program, I feel that I will not only further my career, but I will also be a critical asset to my country.”

“My people are also in great need of Oncologists to address their sufferings. To your surprise, there is no oncologist, even a single one in southern part of Ethiopia with an estimated population of 18 million. For that matter, there are only three oncologists in Ethiopia for about 100 million population.” He added

Dr. Natnael explained “Cancer care is not only about the expensive resources, but it is also about trained healthcare personnel capable of addressing prevention, early diagnosis, & treatment and able to provide palliative care to cancer patients. So human resource capacity building is a core in tackling the burden posed by cancer. With this regard, Merck Foundation already took the lion share in my country and the rest of Africa in general. “

Dr. Kabisa Mwala
Surgical Oncology Fellow
Merck Foundation Alumni, 2018

Zambia
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Dr. Kabisa introduced himself,” I am a general surgeon deeply interested in Surgical Oncology because of my passion for helping patients ravaged by cancer especially, women with breast cancer. I have been participating in running a breast diagnostic clinic at our only Cancer Diseases Hospital (CDH) for the past three years now, with the last one year being run actively by myself. The offered surgical oncology fellowship position at Tata Memorial Hospital through the sponsorship of Merck Foundation will enhance my knowledge and skills in the field of surgical oncology to contribute better in managing patients seeking cancer care at our institution. Our Country has been training surgeons for some time now, but no specific surgical oncology training is available yet”.

“This opportunity of training will greatly help in improving the oncologic services currently being offered in Zambia, contribute to in-house training for other surgeons interested in the field of oncology and participate in local and collaborative research to improve quality of cancer care. As such, Zambia will benefit from this much-needed skill and knowledge I will gain from this fellowship”. He added.

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Dr. Paul Kamfwa, Zambia
Gynaecologic Oncology Fellow
Merck Foundation Alumni, 2018

Zambia
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Dr. Paul Kamtwa told us” Merck Africa Oncology Fellowship Program is important for me because it will help me provide comprehensive and multidisciplinary care. The fellowship will help me to receive extensive surgical exposure to gynaecological procedures, chemotherapy and learn the new and advanced techniques of radiotherapy”.

“For the patients, normally those who have the first contact with a gynaecologic oncologist have the optimal care in staging, surgery, chemo-radiotherapy and follow up and as such better outcomes. Currently, this is not the case, and the fellowship will bridge that gap. Patients will have a continuity of care since surgery and administering of chemoradiotherapy can be facilitated by the same specialist.” he added.

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Dr. Damas Dukundane
Adult Medical Oncology Fellow
Merck Foundation Alumni, 2018

Rwanda

Dr. Damas explained “When the opportunity of Medical oncology fellowship was announced at the Health Ministry of Rwanda, I immediately showed my interest in it. As a clinician in Rwanda, I had a sigh of relief that an additional step towards better healthcare for Rwandans is on the horizon. Cancer care in Rwanda is still a scarcity, for slightly over eleven millions of Rwandans we have probably only one oncologist. Cancer is still a death sentence for many Rwandans who cannot access the necessary cancer care that is often sought abroad.”

“I think that the lack of trained oncologists both doctors, nurses, pathologists, and paramedics is a key factor that results in inadequate cancer awareness and that leads to late-stage consultations and worse outcome for patients with cancer.
For the last ten years, significant efforts have been made by the Rwanda Government to increase trained specialists in internal medicine, surgery anaesthesiology, paediatrics, gynaecology obstetrics, and pathologists, growing numbers of imaging modalities are coming to Rwanda. Being trained in medical oncology will add up to the arsenal to diagnose and treat cancer in Rwanda.” He added

Dr. Damas further emphasized” I recall the discomfort when during my residency I had to break the bad news to a patient that he or she has Cancer, it was such bad news because of no unavailability of treatments locally or not affordable. The worse was to struggle to try to find words to answer what next? Not all solutions will come in one day, but for my patients and myself, this is a hopeful step towards achieving adequate cancer care in Rwanda and the region. I have a lot of expectations from the program and what to achieve after the training. I hope to become a leader in cancer treatment, researcher, and advocate for accessible treatments especially for underprivileged communities at risk.”

Dr. Damas Further acknowledged Merck foundation efforts” I sincerely appreciate the Merck Africa Oncology Fellowship as one of the many Merck Foundation initiatives to touch lives around Africa and in the world. I am honoured to be part of the mission of changing lives especially those affected by cancer. I am grateful to my country Rwanda that has granted me this opportunity; I promise to give back to the people.”

Dr. Justin Mulindwa,
Paediatric Medical Oncology Fellow
Merck Foundation Alumni, 2018

Zambia
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“Currently, I am based at the Cancer Diseases Hospital which is the only centre providing Paediatric Oncology Care for children across a country of an estimated 15 million people with an estimated 45% being in the paediatric age group of up to 15 years old. Therefore, Merck Oncology Fellowship Program is very important for Zambia. It provided me and other doctors with a unique training opportunity that will enhance paediatric oncology care, paediatric oncology research and teaching in the country.”

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Dr Musana Othinie
Gynacologic Oncology Fellow
Merck Foundation Alumni, 2019

Uganda

Dr. Muusana introduced himself “I am Musana Othiniel, an obstetrician and gynaecologist from Uganda currently serving as the head of the department of obstetrics and gynaecology at St. Francis Hospital Nsambya, a 113-year-old Faith-Based Private not for profit (PNFP) tertiary hospital.

Uganda as a country lacks a national cancer screening programme yet cervical cancer, and breast cancer remains the most common cancers and accounts for the highest proportion of cancers requiring radiotherapy. The country also has a shortage of competent gynae-oncology clinicians, researchers and educators in Uganda, hence limiting access for women with cancer to screening, diagnostic and treatment services. “

“The Merck Africa Oncology Fellowship Program will expand my knowledge on the selection of appropriate clinical and research methodology used in gynae-oncology. I hope to improve my skills in carrying out relevant and evidence-based clinical diagnosis and treatment, but also empower me with excellent clinical education skill to mentor other young health workers in gynaecologic- oncology. I would like to apply my new skills attained through the fellowship program by continuing my work in a clinical position at St. Francis Hospital Nsambya where clinical care, research, and clinical education are carried out, and investigate issues mainly in oncology. Especially how simple, cost-effective screening and diagnostic interventions can be used to solve our problems locally. I also plan to use the skills learned in pursuing a Ph.D. programme in the future.” he added

Dr Josephine Augustinus
Medical Oncology Fellow
Merck Foundation Alumni, 2018

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Namibia

"Namibia population is 2,5 million, and more than 3000 new cancer cases get diagnosed on a yearly basis. I am confident that by the end of the one-year fellowship, I will be better equipped to manage cancer patients through preventions, early diagnosis, treatment and palliative care. I sincerely want to thank Merck Foundation for this great program that will transform the lives of cancer patients and their families. Please continue your great work."

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Dr Sekitene Semei Buswambaza
Medical Oncology Fellow
Merck Foundation Alumni, 2018

Uganda

Dr. Buwambaza introduced himself “My name is Semei Sekitene Buwambaza from Uganda, a doctor at Uganda Cancer Institute. It is a great please and honour to be Merck foundation Alumnus and be selected for Merck Africa Oncology Fellowship at Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH) to learn and then go back home to serve Ugandan. Coming from a humble background, and having worked at Uganda Cancer Institute since 2010, initially as a volunteer, I have enjoyed helping our cancer patients many of whom come from less privileged communities.

“As I write this, it is a month now since my aunt who used to carry me on her back as we were running from place to place during the civil war in the early 80s, got the sad news that the pathology findings of the biopsy taken from her breast lump is indeed a carcinoma! So, am interested in Oncology because it is close to home.” Emphasized

“Merck Africa Oncology Fellowship program is significant to me because it is giving me an opportunity to learn and improve the way I have been managing cancer patients. It is also ushering me into the new trend of cancer care and research in the 21st century.

A bond with Merck as an alumnus is going to keep me updated with new developments in cancer care and exposure to a variety of learning seminars and workshops. All these and other benefits mean that my patients in Uganda will get better services and my dream of extending quality care to those in need of it will become a reality. Thank you, Merck, for enabling this opportunity!” he added

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Dr. Adane NIgussie
Palliative Care Fellow
Merck Foundation Alumni, 2018

Ethiopia

Dr. Adane explained I was delighted to know about and to be part of the fellowship program on palliative care that Merck foundation is planning to give. After completing the fellowship program, I will be the person with palliative care training in my hospital, we have only four oncologists, and only two of them are giving palliative care to patients. I have a plan to start a palliative care training after completing my fellowship here. Palliative care is not only about resources, above anything it needs a trained health professional. About this Merck Foundation is taking the pivotal role in my country, Ethiopia”.

“Ethiopia is a country with approximately 100 million population. Currently, the country has three oncologists that serve the stated population. As I am faculty in the university, it will help the country to improve training program in by strengthening and expanding Paediatric oncology fellowship program; this will increase the number of pediatric oncologists and improve access for kids with cancer to get timely improved and appropriate care” he added.

Dr. Angela McLigeyo, Kenya
Medical Oncology Fellow
Merck Foundation Alumni, 2019

Kenya
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Dr. Angela McLigeyo, a medical doctor in Kenya, has worked as a medical officer and consultant physician for the past 12 years.

“Five years ago, after a personal experience with cancer, I realized that oncology patients in Kenya have a tough time accessing healthcare because there are no programs to support the expensive treatment and there are practically no public health programs for improving health systems for cancer management. The outcomes therefore for patients with cancer in my country are very dismal,” McLigeyo says.

“My decision to study oncology was made then, one of the goals of this decision has been to improve the quality of oncology care in Kenya. Especially in the setting of the growing cancer burden in Kenya and the high mortality rates that accompany it. Also, most of the cancer patients in Kenya have to travel out of the country to seek treatment due to high local treatment costs, shortage of specialists and weak health systems.

“The decision to study oncology meant taking the initiative for self-learning as well as collaborating with like-minded oncologists. To this end, I joined the haemato and medical oncology unit at the Kenyatta National Hospital as a volunteer from early 2014, and I have been working with the team there since then,” adds McLigeyo.

McLigeyo explained “The Merck Africa Oncology Fellowship Program” in partnership with the University of Nairobi is timely for the African continent. It aptly suits our need for increasing the number of trained oncologists in the continent, both through developing knowledge and skills as well as increasing research and leadership skills. I look forward to the two-year learning period after which I hope to train others under the same program in addition to offering quality oncology services in my country, Kenya.”

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Dr. Mohammed Ezzi
Medical Oncology Fellow
Merck Foundation Alumni, 2019

Kenya
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Dr Mohammed explained his interest in cancer care “I wanted to become an oncologist ever since I was a teenager after I lost my father to cheek cancer. To make matters worse, I was told that if he would have sought medical attention earlier, he would still be alive,”

“At that time, cancer was a disease that was not talked about openly. I was told he had cancer, but I had no idea what it was. In my naivety, I assumed it was a minor illness that would go away. That was 20 years ago,” he adds.

“The new millennium has brought with it knowledge and technology. The good side is that people are now able to know what cancer is, how it can be tackled and are seeking medical attention. Everywhere, now and then there is an event that is creating awareness on cancer. The government is also trying to tackle this menace by making cancer a national disaster, setting up regional cancer centres, and buying equipment worth billions of shillings for its early diagnosis. However, the human resource capacity required in managing cancer is lagging behind. We need the personnel - the oncologists to complement efforts by government and other organizations, so that we can effectively tackle this menace,” Ezzi explains.

The “Merck Foundation” in partnership with the University of Nairobi, is a beacon of hope for Africa, at a time when we have an insufficient number of oncologists,” Ezzi adds. “I applied for this fellowship because we will be trained by professionals who have a wealth of ideas on what ails cancer in Africa and what the local solutions are. I am positive that at the end of the two-year fellowship, I will be better equipped to manage cancer patients in prevention and early diagnosis, followed by treatment. This Oncology Fellowship Program will set a precedent for producing quality oncologists for African in Africa, such that one day, someone’s father will still be alive even after being diagnosed with cancer,” Ezzi says with confidence.

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Dr. Kokou Hefoume Amegan-Aho
Paediatric Medical Oncology Fellow
Merck Foundation Alumni, 2019

Ghana
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Dr. Kokou explained the Missed Opportunities in Arica “Children affected by cancer have a lot of potentials that we are missing as a nation, by not keeping most, if not all. During my rotation on the paediatric oncology ward of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, I had the privilege to “befriend” many children, gifted with special skills, and full of big dreams for their future. Unfortunately, many are not alive today. I keep the drawings and the stories of most of them in my house and my heart, wishing my friends were still alive! “

“Currently, the survival rate from childhood cancer in Ghana, like other lower and middle-income countries is even lower than that in the USA in the 1960s. In Ghana, children with cancer die undiagnosed or present very late, due to the low awareness and inadequate diagnostic services in our country. Children with cancer are likely to be managed for other common illness in health facilities or parents seeking help from herbalists and spiritualists for many weeks or months. “He emphasized.

Dr. Kokou added,” It is therefore clear that increasing awareness, training more health workers in childhood cancer management; mobilizing funds for early diagnosis and treatment are key to improving childhood cancer outcomes in Ghana.”

“A brighter future through Merck Foundation, “Dr. Kokou from Ghana said “This is an extraordinary opportunity offered by Merck Foundation to help to address the numerous challenges in managing childhood cancers in Ghana, especially the inadequate number of trained specialists in paediatric oncology as well as improving diagnosis and care. I am more excited about the future of this training; it will help unearth undiagnosed cases while increasing awareness, increase survival through early diagnosis and multidisciplinary management. I will be very active in research activities in the area to fill the knowledge gaps.” He added.

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