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Reality of pediatric cancer in Iraq
Salma Abbass Al-Hadad1, Mazin Faisal Al-Jadiry, Amir Fadhil Al-Darraji
1Oncology Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Children Welfare Teaching Hospital, Baghdad College of Medicine, Baghdad, Iraq. cancer@mecc-research.com
Insights
Pediatric cancer care in Baghdad faces challenges due to limited resources and instability. International collaboration improved outcomes for leukemia patients, but infrastructure and human resources require enhancement.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Health Services Research
- International Health
Background:
- Children's Welfare Teaching Hospital in Baghdad treated 366 pediatric cancer cases in 2010, primarily leukemia and lymphoma.
- Significant challenges exist in healthcare services, including manpower, infrastructure, and diagnostic/therapeutic facilities.
- Socioeconomic difficulties and country instability negatively impact pediatric cancer treatment outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To detail health services provided to pediatric cancer patients at Children's Welfare Teaching Hospital, Baghdad.
- To highlight the impact of international collaboration on improving pediatric cancer care.
- To identify areas for improvement in pediatric oncology services in Iraq.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of patient data from 2010.
- Review of health service provision and challenges.
- Assessment of outcomes following international collaboration initiatives.
Main Results:
- International collaboration since 2003 provided essential drugs, supplies, training, and telemedicine support.
- Induction mortality for acute lymphoblastic leukemia decreased from 24% (2007) to 10% (2010).
- Induction mortality for acute promyelocytic leukemia decreased from 95% to 5% with all-trans-retinoic acid. Pathological sample reevaluation with Rome University corrected 20% of diagnoses.
Conclusions:
- International collaborations have demonstrably improved pediatric cancer treatment outcomes in Iraq, particularly for leukemia.
- Despite improvements, significant deficiencies in infrastructure and human resources persist.
- Twinning programs with international cancer centers are crucial for addressing management challenges and enhancing pediatric oncology care in Iraq.
Abstract:
This brief report displays comprehensive details of health services provided by Children's Welfare Teaching Hospital, medical city, Baghdad. In 2010; 366 children with newly diagnosed cancer were admitted for treatment, two thirds were leukemia and lymphoma cases followed by other solid tumors except brain tumors. With this large number of patients; there are shortcomings in provision of health services in many aspects including professional manpower, infrastructure, diagnostic and therapeutic facilities, supportive and palliative care. The previous wars and sanction and the current instability of the country added to the socioeconomic difficulties of the families jeopardizing the appropriate therapy and ultimately the poor treatment outcome. Since 2003 an international collaboration had a major contribution in many aspects like provision of drugs and medical supplies, attendance of scientific workshops, and updating doctor's knowledge and experience through telemedicine programs which resulted in decreasing the induction mortality in acute lymphoblastic leukemia from 24% in the year 2007% to 10% in 2010 after introduction of pre-phase steroids and in acute promyelocytic leukemia from 95% to 5% after introduction of all trans-retinoic acid. A collaborative work with Rome University resulted in changing diagnosis of 20% of pathological samples sent there for reevaluation. Iraqi pediatric oncologists still need real attempts to improve infrastructure and human resources in addition to twinning programs with internationally recognized cancer centers to face these management challenges.
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