January was a busy month for INCTR USA’s Pediatric Oncology Program in Ethiopia. Following two years of collaborative effort, Dr Aziza Shad (President, INCTR USA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding alongside members of the Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Health, Addis Ababa University, and Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, establishing a Pediatric Oncology Fellowship Training program, a twinning program between Tikur Anbessa and Georgetown University, and new goals for the treatment of pediatric cancer at Tikur Anbessa.
Earlier in the trip, the Ethiopian Pediatric Society hosted a continuing medical education (CME) event on pediatric oncology. More than 65 medical professionals from all over Ethiopia attended the CME event, and the enthusiasm for improving pediatric cancer care was overwhelming. The Fellowship program will likely begin in the late spring and the hospital is preparing a more isolated ward for pediatric cancer patients. The INCTR USA team also made progress in the psychosocial, diagnostic, and palliative care components of the program through meetings with its Ethiopian partners.