PAHO and SJD Barcelona Children’s Hospital promote network to expand access to hematopoietic transplantation for children with Cancer in the Andean region – PAHO/WHO
A collaborative effort is underway to improve pediatric cancer care in the Andean subregion of Latin America and the Caribbean. More than 160 health professionals from Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela are participating in a project focused on strengthening capabilities in pediatric cancer treatment, with a particular emphasis on pediatric hematopoietic transplantation (HT).
A Critical Need for Improved Care
Cancer represents a leading cause of death among children and adolescents globally. In Latin America and the Caribbean, approximately 30,000 new pediatric cancer cases are diagnosed annually, tragically resulting in nearly 10,000 deaths. Survival rates are starkly uneven, with children in high-income countries experiencing cure rates exceeding 80%, while those in many low- and middle-income countries face survival rates below 30%.
Regional Disparities
The Andean subregion currently experiences a pediatric cancer mortality rate of 5.3 deaths per 100,000 children and adolescents, exceeding the regional average of 4 per 100,000. Despite these challenges, Ministries of Health within the region have demonstrated a commitment to enhancing childhood cancer services and ensuring more equitable access to timely care.
Collaboration and Expertise
The project has fostered the creation of a multidisciplinary team comprised of hematologists, oncologists, pediatricians, nurses, pharmacists, health managers, and transplantation specialists. Participants have engaged in joint sessions to analyze clinical cases, standardize technical criteria, and reinforce patient safety protocols.
Dr. Liliana Vásquez Ponce, a technical officer with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), emphasized that these initiatives “help optimize diagnosis and treatment timelines, reduce long-term complications associated with delayed interventions, and move toward more equitable care.” She added that the work represents “a concrete commitment to children’s rights to receive timely, quality care, regardless of where they live.”
Dr. Júlia Marsal, Head of the Hematopoietic Progenitor Transplant Unit at SJD Barcelona Children’s Hospital, described supporting teams in the Andean subregion as “both a challenge and an opportunity.” SJD Barcelona Children’s Hospital will contribute its experience to facilitate knowledge exchange and build expertise in the field.
Future Directions
The project aims to establish a subregional Andean patient referral network, develop updated technical guidelines, create informational resources for families, and conduct a comprehensive analysis of hematopoietic transplantation capabilities within the six participating countries. A long-term collaboration platform is being established to strengthen equitable access to pediatric cancer treatment and promote ongoing education throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.
This partnership aligns with the World Health Organization’s Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer, led in the Americas by PAHO under the name CureAll Americas, which seeks to increase survival rates to at least 60% by 2030 in resource-limited settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this project?
The project’s primary focus is to strengthen capacity for pediatric cancer care in the Andean subregion, with a special emphasis on pediatric hematopoietic transplantation.
Which countries are involved in this initiative?
Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela are participating in this collaborative project.
What is the goal of the CureAll Americas initiative?
CureAll Americas, led by PAHO, aims to increase pediatric cancer survival rates to at least 60% by 2030 in resource-limited settings.
As International Childhood Cancer Day approaches on February 15, PAHO reaffirms its commitment to collective action, ensuring that no child or adolescent is left behind in the fight against cancer.
How might increased collaboration and resource sharing impact the future of pediatric cancer treatment in the Andean region?