Katie Wakeham, GCR Radiotherapy Essential Standards Chair, recently visited Uganda to attend an important meeting at The Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI).
Dr. Wakeham previously had the privilege of working at a research institution in Uganda from 2007 to 2013. During that time she witnessed the impact of collaborations with international partners to share best practices and shape policy.
On her recent visit, she discussed the GCR Radiotherapy Essential Standards and the key components the UCI would adopt as their service develops.
Established in the 1960s, the UCI is the only radiotherapy cancer centre in Uganda for a population of approximately 45 million people. Their vision is to build a sustainable, high-quality radiotherapy service with a team of highly committed staff.
“At the start of the HIV epidemic, Uganda emerged as a pivotal player in HIV research, treatment service, and public health initiatives. Uganda has now made a commitment to improve access to radiotherapy as a key part of improving outcomes from cancer. The Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) has been at the forefront of expanding radiotherapy services by building new facilities, increasing the number of available machines, and rapidly transitioning to advanced technology.”- Katie Wakeham
The Radiotherapy Unit currently has three external beam radiotherapy machines, a planning system, and a CT simulator. As they continue to rapidly adopt advanced radiotherapy technology, establishing partnerships will provide significant advantages. Dr. Wakeham said:
“Collaboration with international organizations will be important to build infrastructure, train healthcare professionals and improve cancer services.”
The GCR is proud of the work and collaborations from our many contributors to share the GCR Radiotherapy Essential Standards.
To learn more about the Essential Standards, or to get involved, please click here: