Existing and Planned Courses
Workforce training is essential to address cancer care and prevention challenges and improve cancer care and outcomes across sub-Saharan Africa. Cancer Kitso, an education and training program launched in Botswana in 2022, holds enormous potential to be expanded, adapted, and shared through the alliance effort.
Some specific trainings we have already developed for Go Together to consider in developing workforce training across the member countries include:
- Cancer Prevention and Early Detection for Clinical Care Settings: Train healthcare professionals to identify, prevent, and detect cancer at an early stage. The course aims to enhance participants’ understanding of the importance of early cancer detection and the role of clinical care settings in promoting cancer prevention strategies.
For all hospitals:
- Fundamentals of Cancer Care and Prevention for Common Cancers: Train healthcare professionals on common cancers. This includes a comprehensive understanding of cancer, focusing on the most prevalent types of cancer in the general population. This course aims to equip healthcare professionals and individuals interested in cancer care and prevention with the fundamental knowledge and skills necessary to address the challenges posed by cancer and promote effective prevention strategies.
For cancer centers:
- Advanced Oncology Care and Treatment – Level 1: This course provides healthcare professionals with an in-depth understanding of advanced concepts and practices in oncology care. The focus is on equipping participants with the necessary knowledge and skills to deliver specialized care to cancer patients at an advanced level. A wide range of topics are covered related to cancer treatment modalities, supportive care, and management of cancer-related complications.
For health care practitioners currently caring of cancer patients:
- Advanced Oncology Care and Treatment Level 2: This course is an advanced-level program designed to provide healthcare professionals who want to specialize in oncology with in-depth knowledge and expertise in specialized cancer care and treatment areas. It builds upon the concepts covered in Level 1 and delves deeper into advanced topics, innovative research, and emerging therapies in oncology.
- Critical Oncologic Emergencies: This course provides an overview of the different oncologic emergencies that healthcare professionals may see in non-oncology units. Topics include surgical oncology; radiation oncology; side effects of anticancer agents, including chemotherapy reactions; metabolic, neurologic, and neutropenic (septic) emergencies; hemorrhage/sepsis; hypoxia; gastrointestinal and urologic obstructive emergencies; and cancer pain management. This course focuses on preparing participants to handle critical situations that may arise in cancer patients undergoing treatment or living with advanced cancer. Participants will learn to identify warning signs, implement appropriate interventions, and coordinate multidisciplinary care to optimize patient outcomes.
- Precision Diagnostics and Medicines for Sub-Saharan Africa: This is a specialized course for healthcare professionals and researchers in the region who already have an in-depth understanding of precision medicine, personalized diagnostics, and their application in the context of health care in sub-Saharan Africa. This course focuses on leveraging innovative technologies and tailored treatment approaches to improve patient outcomes and address health care challenges specific to the region.
- Patient Navigation: This training is specifically tailored to address the unique health care challenges in each country. Health educators, lay volunteers, case managers, and interested healthcare professionals obtain the knowledge and skills needed to serve as patient navigators in the country. This course aims to enhance participants’ understanding of patient navigation principles and their significance in improving healthcare access and equity for the population. Participants learn to address cultural, geographical, and resource-related barriers to healthcare, providing patients with the necessary support and advocacy to navigate the healthcare system effectively.
For district and primary hospitals:
- Fine Needle Aspiration and Core Needle Biopsy Training: This workshop is intended for non-surgeon doctors. The two-hour training session begins with theory, followed by a demonstration of the two biopsy procedures. Techniques are shown using three different needles: a fine needle, a manual core needle, and a semi-automatic core needle. Demonstrations are performed on apples and gelatin molds with olives that mimic cancerous masses. With the guidance of the trainer (an experienced surgeon), doctors will practice the illustrated procedures. If at the time of the workshop there is a booked patient with breast or other mass, the trainer can demonstrate the procedures on the patient.
For all hospitals:
- Cancer Awareness for Individuals, Families, and Communities: Train healthcare professionals to raise awareness about cancer risk factors and symptoms among the general population. Encourage early detection and timely diagnosis, which can significantly improve the chances of successful treatment.
For primary healthcare practitioners:
Our goal is to equip the healthcare workforce in sub-Saharan Africa with breadth of knowledge, patient management skills, and confidence to improve cancer survivorship outcomes in the region. This is through development or updating courses through a systematic and thoughtful process to ensure that the content, structure, and delivery methods align with the training goals and needs of the target audience. The design, implementation, and evaluation of these courses will be guided by a cancer equity perspective, prioritizing team-based approaches to achieve patient-centered care outcomes. We have a dedicated team of curriculum development specialists and subject matter experts who will co-develop and update courses for online, blended/hybrid, and in-person learning. We will reference existing training curricula from reputable organizations (such as the African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer, American Cancer Society, American Society of Clinical Oncology, European Society for Medical Oncology, International Atomic Energy Agency, World Health Organization, Union for International Cancer Control, academic and research institutions with cancer institutes, the National Cancer Institute at the U.S. National Institutes of Health, the Global Health Center at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other relevant sources). Subject matter experts from representing different professions will be matched to one or more courses based on expertise, experience, and interest.
Go Together 