Capacity building: a novel pediatric hematology-oncology fellowship program in sub-Saharan Africa

Although 80% of pediatric cancer cases occur in low-and middle-income countries, specialists in the field of pediatric hematology and oncology (PHO) are scarce, which is a major reason for the dismal survival rates of children with cancer and blood disorders in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) compared with that in high-income countries (HICs). Traditional models of specialty training for SSA physicians (eg, those with a residency or fellowship in HICs) inevitably result in brain drain from SSA. Moreover, the content and context of training in HICs are often irrelevant to SSA settings.