Abstract:
Together with the Africa Continental Branch of the International Society of Paediatric
Oncology (SIOP Africa), the Uganda Cancer Institute, a tertiary governmental institution
for specialised cancer care services, research and training, hosted the 14th continental
meeting of SIOP Africa from the 16–18 March 2022. Under the conference theme,
‘Innovate for Africa’, the hybrid conference brought together close to 400 international
delegates to discuss innovations and experiences, as well as share the latest research in
the field of paediatric oncology. The World Health Organisation 2030 Global Initiative for
Childhood Cancer provided the main starting point for the conference with a comprehensive
pre-conference workshop programme, from multiple stakeholders and organisations
and the themes for the plenaries towards improving survival to the main breakout
sessions. Delegates discussed various ways of improving outcomes in Africa, despite the
challenges faced individually and collectively ranging from education, management systems
and treatment guidelines to future governmental and NGO involvement in African
cancer care. The main achievements of the conference were various commitments for
collaboration, investing in junior investigators, development of registries and systems for
improved childhood care on the African continent, while working towards greater access
to advanced management options such as targeted therapies and bone marrow transplant
services.
