Kathmandu, Nepal - The Childhood Cancer Symposium and Stakeholder Engagement Event today is bringing together health professionals, policymakers, childhood cancer experts, nurses, survivors, families, civil-society organizations and development partners to discuss the current state of childhood cancer care in Nepal and identify practical ways to strengthen services.
The event is structured around the full continuum of childhood cancer care, including early diagnosis, referral, treatment, nursing and supportive care, nutrition, psychosocial support, family engagement, survivorship and palliative care.
The programme opens with an overview of childhood cancer care in Nepal, followed by global perspectives and a review of the current situation, gaps and opportunities for improving childhood cancer services. A dedicated session on doctors' perspectives will examine challenges related to diagnosis and treatment, including early diagnosis, referral systems, treatment protocols, access to medicines, multidisciplinary care, treatment abandonment and the development of shared-care networks.
The event also gives a strong platform to nursing professionals. The Nurses' Perspective session focuses on the role of nurses in improving quality of care, including professional competencies, patient safety, supportive care, infection prevention, counselling, follow-up and continuing professional development. A presentation on learning from training at Tata Memorial Hospital is also included in the programme.
Importantly, the event moves beyond the clinical perspective by incorporating the experiences of childhood cancer survivors and families. Sessions on survivors' perspectives and family support are intended to highlight the lived experiences of children and caregivers throughout diagnosis, treatment and recovery. The programme also features the launch of a Family and Caretaker Guidebook.
Nutrition is another important component, with a dedicated presentation on nutrition in childhood cancer care: from treatment to recovery. The programme also includes the Blood Cancer Society Nepal, reflecting the role of patient and community organizations in supporting people affected by cancer.
A central stakeholder session, titled “Building a Stronger Childhood Cancer Care System in Nepal: From Partnership to Action,” will examine findings from relevant evaluations and explore how different stakeholders can work together to strengthen the country's childhood cancer-care system.
The closing sessions will focus on identifying priorities, recommendations and practical actions for strengthening childhood cancer and nursing services. Feedback from the Ministry of Health and Population, hospital directors and development partners will also form part of the concluding discussions.
The event reflects the understanding that improving childhood cancer outcomes requires more than access to medical treatment alone. Early detection, timely referral, appropriate medicines, skilled health workers, quality nursing, nutrition, psychosocial and family support, survivorship services and coordinated referral and shared-care systems are all important elements of comprehensive childhood cancer care.
Nepal has been working to strengthen its childhood cancer response through national initiatives, including efforts to improve early diagnosis, treatment guidelines, health-worker capacity and coordination among institutions. The World Health Organization has identified childhood cancer as an important area for strengthening Nepal's health system and has supported efforts under the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer.
The Childhood Cancer Symposium and Stakeholder Engagement Event therefore provides a platform for bringing together clinical knowledge, policy perspectives and the experiences of children, survivors and families. Its focus on partnership and practical action aims to contribute to a more coordinated, accessible and child- and family-centred approach to childhood cancer care in Nepal.
Ecosphere News | Environment • Health • Development • Sustainability
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