Ghana to make significant step in Cancer treatment especially with the construction of the Kwaso Oncology Centre in the Ashanti Region. This ultramodern facility will address the needs of Ghana but also patients across the entire West African sub-region when it is completed, with a $100 million facility. The centre will equip patients with advanced technology and all the services that as a likely to produce a boost in the incidence of cancer in Ghana and other countries.
The Kwaso Oncology Centre aims to offer tertiary clinical services, radiotherapy being one of the services which are scarce in many African countries. There will also be a specialised research division in the building to enable research in early detection, treatment and control of cancer. Also, the implementation of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) hub will allow applying new technologies in determining effective individual patient management strategies.
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Apart from service delivery, it plans take the mantle of being a training institution for individuals the sector. As it will have a special wing dedicated to medical education, it will provide specially trained human resource in health to enable Ghana develop a formidable workforce of oncologists. This move is particularly significant considering the fact that there is currently a dearth of qualified human resource in cancer management in Africa. The centre will also organize public health promotion programmes on cancer prevention and early detection, which are effective strategies in decreasing cancer mortality.
Significance
The Kwaso Oncology Centre has an importance that goes beyond the country of Ghana. On completion it will be able to admit patients from all over West Africa and therefore it will act as a medical tourism center. Through providing specialized treatments within the region, the centre will prevent many visitors from having to travel to other countries for the costly treatments. The increase in the incidences of cancer across the continent, and the acutely poor availability of good cancer treatment services in many African nations makes this a timely development.
The project has been hailed by its key implementer and head of the Breast Care International (BCI), Dr. Beatrice Wiafe-Addai for its broad potential impact. In an interview Dr. Wiafe-Addai said that the new facility brings best technology in the treatment of cancer which will help the patient to receive high standard and quality of treatment depending on their needs. She has also emphasised on the need to do tests often, and report any symptoms when they develop to the relevant authorities.
In aggregate, the Kwaso Oncology Centre is a significant improvement for Ghana and its most vital component – healthcare. Therefore, through collaboration of science, knowledge, technology and development, the centre has the capacity to transform cancer treatment and diagnosis in West Africa.
Comprehensive Cancer Center of Excellence
One of the revolutionary projects in construction in Ghana and in particular Ashanti region is The Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Excellence. It will include such state-of-the-art clinical capabilities as a radiotherapy, a research division, and the Centre for Professional Development and Education in Healthcare. This effort has received backing from several organizations; and most notably obtained a large seed funding grant from the Biden’s Cancer Moonshot: again demonstrating a possible influence on public health.
It became clear that the main aim of the centre is to establish and enhance the diagnostic and therapeutic alternatives to cancer with focus on improving the preventive measures as opposed to the conventional aggressive approach of seeking treatment elsewhere in South East Asia. The Somika Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Excellence aligns a knowledge expectation of drastic reduction of patient travel for oncology services from Ghana to other countries that would ultimately strengthen Ghana’s domestic healthcare system. Also, the project will help in development of medical tourism by marketing Ghana to be among the best in treatment of cancer within the West African sub-region as we join the rest of Africa in fighting the growing cancer epidemic.
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