Despite COVID-19 Pandemic, ASCP Forges Ahead to Improve Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment in Africa

While the COVID-19 pandemic curtailed many activities in the United States for the past several months, ASCP is continuing its work to improve laboratory medicine in resource-limited countries. 

Nearly two years ago, ASCP joined forces with BIO Ventures for Global Health—through the African Access Initiative (AAI)—to improve the diagnosis and treatment of cancer in Africa, where cancer kills nearly 700,000 a year.  

Both organizations have celebrated the recent completion of one of their joint initiatives— the Nigeria Virtual Pathology Course —a nine-week, virtual pathology course taught by cancer pathology experts to 85 pathologists throughout Nigeria. ASCP and BVGH collaborated with representatives of the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital in Zaria, Nigeria as in-country coordinating partners.

“The priority of the place of training and retraining cannot be overemphasized,” said Dr. Osagie Ehanire, the Nigerian Federal Minister of Health, who presided over the virtual graduation ceremony held to recognize the participants. “Government cannot do it alone.  Hence [the partnership with BVGH and ASCP] in this respect is apt, well-conceived and very much appreciated. This training has further equipped pathologists and oncologists to diagnose and manage cancers more effectively and efficiently, making for better prognosis.”

Meanwhile, the collaboration between the two organizations continues throughout Africa. This partnership combines the strengths of ASCP, the world’s largest professional membership organization for pathologists and laboratory professionals with BVGH, a results-oriented, nonprofit organization that is dedicated to solving global health issues by forming connections between people, resources, and ideas.

AAI engages stakeholders across sectors to accelerate access to cancer treatment in Africa. Using data generated at the country-level by African hospitals and governments, AAI has been expanding access to cancer medicines and technologies, strengthening healthcare infrastructure, and building clinical oncology and R&D capacity in Africa.

You can read more about ASP’s partnership with BVGH to bring innovative cancer training to pathologists in Nigeria on BVGH’s blog.  And, click here to watch BVGH’s AAI interview on Nigeria's Arise News.