Uganda Cancer Institute has today 5th July 2017 launched the Fellowship Programme in Gynecological Oncology at Protea Hotel Kampala in a colourful event graced by the Minister of Health Dr. Jane Ruth Acheng.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Uganda Cancer Institute, Mulago National Referral Hospital, Makerere University College of Health Sciences and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uganda targeting capacity building and Health Professional Training in Uganda resulting into collaborative delivery of fellowship training in Gynecological Oncology in Uganda and East Africa at large.

Gynecological oncology is a specialised field of medicine that focuses on cancers of the female reproductive system. Some cancers include ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, varginal cancer, cervical and vulvar cancer.

According to research, Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Ugandan women. In 2014, World Health Organisation estimated that approximately 3,915 Ugandan women are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year, with 2,160 dying from the disease. While emphasis is being placed mainly on cervical cancer, Uganda Cancer Institute’s records show an alarming incidence of ovarian cancer in our population previously thought to be more predominant in high income countries. With limited screening strategies for this cancer and a generally poor prognosis, new challenges of mortality from gynaecological cancers are being registered amidst low resource availability for comprehensive care. With all this we saw it necessary to bring on board a fellowship programme in gynecological oncology training aiming at the following:

• Building upon existing strengths to establish a National multi-disciplinary gynecologic oncology training programme.

• Improving the care and treatment of females with gynecologic cancer.

• Building healthcare worker capacity focused on knowledge, awareness and skills development in the disease recognition and early care of females with gynecologic cancers.

• Targeting health systems strengthening, capacity building and infrastructure enhancement with an innititial focus on Mulago National Referral Hospital and Uganda Cancer Institute with the goal of sustaining advancies in patient outcome.

• Establishing and operating a gynecological oncology Fellowship program in Uganda.

• Establishing a National gynecological oncology disease registry and fostering multi-displinary and cross sector collaboration essential to health system strengthening with in gynecological oncology.

All partners are however obliged to meeting the objectives of the Programme.
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