TUFTON… we will have the capabilities right here in Jamaica to be among the leaders in cancer treatment and care in the Caribbean
IN recognition of World Cancer Day on February 4, Minister of Health Dr Christopher Tufton reaffirmed that Jamaica is now in a position to provide world-class cancer care to its citizens and visitors. This is as a result of a number of scholarships being awarded to Jamaicans to study abroad in specialised areas required for cancer care, as well as the opening of the first of two modern cancer treatment centres at the Cornwall Regional Hospital.
“With the technical capacity that we have in the doctors and specialists and those currently in training, as well as the new technology, we will have the capabilities right here in Jamaica to be among the leaders in cancer treatment and care in the Caribbean,” Tufton said.
The National Cancer Treatment Centre is equipped with, among other technology, a linear accelerator which is used around the world to provide targeted radiation treatment.
The Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund has also provided $63 million in scholarships to Jamaicans to study in specialised areas necessary for optimum cancer care. The CHASE Fund provided a total of 26 scholarships to four biomedical engineers, two medical radiation physicists and four radiation oncologists.
“Training was an important component of the project, because if we are to increase capacity, we must have the technical expertise. So beyond the infrastructure requirements, we identified the personnel that were needed to operate the centres. CHASE also committed funding towards the ministry’s oncology nurses training programme for five years. So far 16 nurses have been trained as oncology nurses,” said Chief executive officer of the CHASE Fund William Billy Heaven.
St James native Deon Dick is one such Jamaican currently studying abroad on scholarship from CHASE. Dick is in her fourth year of a five-year PhD programme in biomedical engineering, with a concentration in medical physics, at the University of Miami in the United States. She said the specialised training that she is currently doing is not available in Jamaica, but is vital to improving the country’s existing cancer care programme.
“With the major upgrade in cancer treatment equipment now available in Jamaica, the specialised training that we’re receiving is important for the proper use of the new equipment. If you have advanced treatment equipment but no training, it is just as bad as having outdated equipment. Therefore the training will allow us to improve cancer treatment by targeting tumours more accurately,” Dick said.
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