The GHN Supportive Care Working Group (WG) is a dynamic community of healthcare providers focusing on the environment of care elements to ensure success in the management of cancer in children. Toxic complications and death are major obstacles during cancer treatment in low- and middle-income countries. Infections and bleeding are major causes of poor outcomes, especially among those with impoverished nutritional status, contributing to increased toxicities in these children. Infection complications of cancer care are minimized by improving timely and effective infection care and prevention support. Safe and expedited use of blood products as well as nutritional augmentation play a vital role in improving cancer care.

The Supportive Care WG’s goal is to equip providers in resource limited settings with the knowledge to manage infection complications, appropriate and safe use of blood products, hence providing holistic care to their patients. In order to achieve this goal, we collaborate extensively with other colleagues and groups within and outside the Society to further our objectives and save the lives of children with cancer.

The Supportive Care WG members meets every two months to report on the progress of activities and to encourage presentations of studies and discussions of relevant topics affecting the care of children with cancer.

Current Activities

  1. Education and knowledge-sharing to improve Supportive Care services in low- and middle-income countries
  2. Collaborative efforts with other SIOP Networks and Global Health Network’s Working Groups