Ethiopia Launches National Pediatric Initiative to Transform Childhood Cancer Care
Amanuel Kindeya Ethiopia has officially established the Ethiopian Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Society (ESPHO)—a strategic initiative dedicated to revolutionizing the treatment and support for children with cancer and blood disorders. An inaugural ceremony in Addis Ababa marked a landmark advancement for Ethiopia’s healthcare system: the launch of an initiative to address an urgent national challenge. Dereje Duguma, the State Minister of Health, described the launch as a paradigm shift, stressing that addressing pediatric cancer requires a unified front. Dereje says “ESPHO is essential for gathering critical data, training specialized personnel, and ensuring early diagnosis.The Ministry of Health is signaling to working alongside to build a resilient healthcare infrastructure for children”. The initiative addresses an urgent national challenge. Currently, an estimated 6,000 to 8,000 Ethiopian children are diagnosed with cancer each year, yet fewer than 2,000 receive timely and adequate treatment. Dereje Noted, the Ministry of Health has introduced a comprehensive five-year roadmap to confront the gap. The plan focuses on expanding nationwide screening programs, improving access to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and increasing the number of specialized pediatric oncology centers. Dr Abel Hailu, President of ESPHO, emphasized the remarkable progress made over the last decade. “Fifteen years ago, pediatric oncology services were virtually non-existent. Today, we have eight hospitals providing radiotherapy and seven specialized clinics,” he said. Ethiopia aims to raise the childhood cancer survival rate to 60 percent up scale 2030. Signaling its growing leadership in the field, the national initiative is set to host the 2027 SIOP Africa Conference, fostering greater regional collaboration in pediatric oncology.
