Developing a partnership to improve health care delivery to children <18 years with cancer and blood disorders in the English-speaking Caribbean: lessons from the SickKids-Caribbean Initiative (SCI)

Abstract

In 2013, the SickKids-Caribbean Initiative (SCI) was formalised among The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada, the University of the West Indies, and Ministries of Health in six Caribbean countries (Barbados, The Bahamas, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago). The aim was to improve the outcomes and quality of life of children (<18 years) with cancer and blood disorders in the partner countries. Core activities included filling a human resource gap by training paediatric haematologists/oncologists and specialised registered nurses; improving capacity to diagnose and treat diverse haematology/oncology cases; developing and maintaining paediatric oncology databases; creating ongoing advocacy activities with international agencies, decision makers, and civil society; and establishing an integrated administration, management, and funding structure. We describe core program components, successes, and challenges to inform others seeking to improve health service delivery in a multidisciplinary and complex partnership.

Keywords: Advocacy; Caribbean; Database; Education; Haematology; Oncology; Paediatrics; Sickle cell disease; Training.

Fig. 1

Phases and key activities within SCI, from inception to current day.¹651 case consultations conducted in total to March 31, 2022, including solid tumour (215), leukaemia/lymphoma (208), haematology (119), neuro-oncology (100), and other (9). ²Provided by the support of local stakeholders. PDPHON, post-registration diploma in paediatric haematology/oncology nursing.

Fig. 2

Framework of activities and outcomes withinSCI.

Fig. 3

Distribution of case consultations, SCI-trained paediatric haematology/oncology physicians and nurses, and oncology database managers across the SCI partner countries between2013 and 2022.