Merck Cancer Access Program

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. 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.”

 

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. “