By Esther Nakkazi
On 8th August 1967, the lymphoma treatment research centre was born in Uganda. The Irish surgeon, Denis Burkitt who was treating tropical diseases was interested in Burkitt’s Lymphoma - a highly curable paediatric lymphoma.
This disease, which was later named after the Irish surgeon, was a strikingly disfiguring tumour, with malaria and viruses as causative factors and was commonly manifested among the young male population.
In 1972, when Uganda’s president Idi Amin threw out all foreigners from the country, the expatriates left the lymphoma treatment centre in the able hands of Prof Charles Olweny. Olweny and his staff kept the UCI alive and thriving, they followed up almost all their patients.
Dr. Tom Tomusange (RIP) and his team navigated through thickets and roadless places during these patient safaris to follow up on patients. As a result, for a patient cohort of over 200 patients only about 6 were lost to follow up. That was just one of the successes.
At a press conference to mark 50 years, today, Dr. Marissa Mika, a historian and anthropologist who has been studying the history of cancer in Uganda since 2010, took us through the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, when UCI conducted cutting edge chemotherapy clinical research trials on Burkitt’s lymphoma.
According to Dr. Mika, the data from these clinical trials continues to inform treatment protocols across the globe. Also for its excellent work at that time, the UCI won the Lasker award for research on Burkitt’s lymphoma in 1972.
It was no easy feat for UCI to be bestowed upon the Lasker award, about the equivalent of today’s noble prize, but they had done profound research against Burkitt's lymphoma, which could be put into remission and eventually healed and with very limited funding.
As the lymphoma treatment centre now the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI), turns half a Century old, it is also celebrated as the oldest cancer research and public oncology facility in Africa. Recently, it was designated as a centre for excellence in oncology by the East African Development Bank.
“UCI is making an impact in East Africa and it is on its way to becoming an example in Africa,” said Jackson Orem the executive director of UCI.
But what can it take for UCI to win the Lasker award again? And does it mean Uganda Burkitt’s lymphoma was wiped out and is no more? Unfortunately not. Burkitt’s lymphoma continues to be a major paediatric problem in Uganda.
The problem according to Dr. Orem is that the gains that were made at the time Burkitt’s lymphoma was healed were never followed up. The other problem is limited funding for cancer.
“When investment in an area is made it should be followed up. In 1967 they were emphasising generation of new knowledge. We are trying to put that back at UCI,” said Dr. Orem at the half Century mark.
The man at the helm of UCI says unlike other African countries that may be waiting for ready made solutions, his Institute is putting research at the forefront of fighting cancer.
But we all know that research is impossible without funding. And to this he says; research must be funded. It should not be considered a luxury. For today’s research is tomorrow’s treatment.
Ultimately, at the UCI, the research that was done 50 years ago is treatment today.
ends
On 8th August 1967, the lymphoma treatment research centre was born in Uganda. The Irish surgeon, Denis Burkitt who was treating tropical diseases was interested in Burkitt’s Lymphoma - a highly curable paediatric lymphoma.
This disease, which was later named after the Irish surgeon, was a strikingly disfiguring tumour, with malaria and viruses as causative factors and was commonly manifested among the young male population.
In 1972, when Uganda’s president Idi Amin threw out all foreigners from the country, the expatriates left the lymphoma treatment centre in the able hands of Prof Charles Olweny. Olweny and his staff kept the UCI alive and thriving, they followed up almost all their patients.
Dr. Tom Tomusange (RIP) and his team navigated through thickets and roadless places during these patient safaris to follow up on patients. As a result, for a patient cohort of over 200 patients only about 6 were lost to follow up. That was just one of the successes.
At a press conference to mark 50 years, today, Dr. Marissa Mika, a historian and anthropologist who has been studying the history of cancer in Uganda since 2010, took us through the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, when UCI conducted cutting edge chemotherapy clinical research trials on Burkitt’s lymphoma.
According to Dr. Mika, the data from these clinical trials continues to inform treatment protocols across the globe. Also for its excellent work at that time, the UCI won the Lasker award for research on Burkitt’s lymphoma in 1972.
It was no easy feat for UCI to be bestowed upon the Lasker award, about the equivalent of today’s noble prize, but they had done profound research against Burkitt's lymphoma, which could be put into remission and eventually healed and with very limited funding.
As the lymphoma treatment centre now the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI), turns half a Century old, it is also celebrated as the oldest cancer research and public oncology facility in Africa. Recently, it was designated as a centre for excellence in oncology by the East African Development Bank.
“UCI is making an impact in East Africa and it is on its way to becoming an example in Africa,” said Jackson Orem the executive director of UCI.
But what can it take for UCI to win the Lasker award again? And does it mean Uganda Burkitt’s lymphoma was wiped out and is no more? Unfortunately not. Burkitt’s lymphoma continues to be a major paediatric problem in Uganda.
The problem according to Dr. Orem is that the gains that were made at the time Burkitt’s lymphoma was healed were never followed up. The other problem is limited funding for cancer.
“When investment in an area is made it should be followed up. In 1967 they were emphasising generation of new knowledge. We are trying to put that back at UCI,” said Dr. Orem at the half Century mark.
The man at the helm of UCI says unlike other African countries that may be waiting for ready made solutions, his Institute is putting research at the forefront of fighting cancer.
But we all know that research is impossible without funding. And to this he says; research must be funded. It should not be considered a luxury. For today’s research is tomorrow’s treatment.
Ultimately, at the UCI, the research that was done 50 years ago is treatment today.
ends
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.