WHO reports that cancer is now killing more people in the developing countries than malaria, TB and HIV/AIDS combined, and this situation is growing steadily worse.
Specialized units for treating children with cancer are rare in developing countries, leading to overcrowded wards and the spread of fatal infections.
The INCTR Challenge Fund is raising money to provide effective treatment for children with African BL in Tanzania, Kenya, Nigeria and Uganda.
In some countries the situation may be complicated by a lack of professional regard (or understanding) of palliative care as a bona fide part of cancer control, and by local medical and legal barriers to the use of opioids for pain relief.
[4] In Nepal the INCTR Challenge Fund is building a Palliative Care Network that will help reduce the suffering of cancer patients in the Kathmandu valley.