Q. Why is it important to have an organisation like World Child Cancer?

A. One of the main limitations to advancing pediatric oncology in low income countries is the lack of knowledge in their public hospitals. Twinning programs - which involve a partnership between pediatric cancer units in high income countries and those in low income countries - have been successful in rapidly improving the status of pediatric oncology in poor countries. World Child Cancer will provide valuable resources for the implementation and maintenance of such programs.

Q. What is your own background?

A. I am a pediatric hematologist/oncologist and director of the St. Jude International Outreach Program. I have supervised the implementation of several successful twinning programs in pediatric oncology.

Q. How did you become personally involved in the field of childhood cancer?

A. I was attracted to pediatric oncology because of the immense need of these patients and the challenge of understanding the mechanism of these diseases.

Q. Why do you feel this particular cause is so important?

A. Pediatric cancer is highly curable. Research has already brought about knowledge that enables us to cure most children with cancer in high income countries. Now we need to replicate this picture in low income countries.

Q. What stops things working at present in lower income countries?

A. There are several barriers to improving pediatric cancer care in lower income countries, including lack of trained health care providers, inadequate hospital infrastructure and lack of medication. In addition, sociocultural characteristics impede more effective planning for pediatric oncology in many of these countries.

Q. Can a difference really be made?

A. About 50% of pediatric cancer can be cured with relatively simple procedures that have been known to the medical field for many decades. When this knowledge is transferred and utilised via twinning programs, it makes a dramatic and sustainable difference.

Q. What can others do to help make this a success?

A. By making a contribution to a charity such as World Child Cancer, anyone can help to advance pediatric cancer care in lower income countries.