LEUKAEMIA PROJECT FOUNDATION: The foundation was initially formed in 2008 by a leukaemia survivor and two doctors at the Korle-Bu teaching hospital in Ghana. In February 2011 it merged with my foundation, The Keith Agyepong Leukaemia Trust to put resources together and meet the same goals.
*100: What inspired you to start LPF?
LPF: The foundation was set up to give a chance to people living with blood cancers as well as haematological diseases such as sickle cell disease to receive comprehensive treatment locally at a cost much lower than what is currently being offered in centers in UK, USA or South Africa. Patients currently receiving treatment for blood cancers in Ghana are limited to
treatment available which in a significant number of cases is not comprehensive with resultant low survival rate,and so we felt it was time to change the outlook of blood diseases in Ghana and the sub region.
*100: What is LPF's mission?
LPF: Based on the realization that Leukaemia and other haematological neoplasm have attained debilitating proportions in Ghana and convinced that, we can in our individual and institutional capacities collectively contribute positively to halting this challenging and tragic malignancy, the Leukaemia Foundation has - as a private initiative - committed itself to
mobilizing resources to help in the education for the prevention as well as the care and cure of Ghanaians living with leukaemia, lymphoma and related blood disorders.
From raising funds, to creating awareness, to scientific advances, our goal is to save each and every life. Here’'s what we’re trying to do:
a. The foremost objective of the foundation is to mobilize resources for the construction and management of the Leukaemia Cancer Center in Korle-Bu to be named Ghana Center for Haematology and Clinical Genetics”, which the management of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital have generously provided land for. The proposed Ghana Center for Haematology and Clinical Genetics
will [include]:
Routine, special and tissue-typing Laboratories comprising the following:
- Main eight rooms with separate blood transfusion wing, HLA laboratory, Bleeding/Pheresis Room, Serology Laboratory, Blood Bank Fridges special and tissue-typing
- Clean Laboratory with bacteriology unit, microflow, air filter for stem cell preparations and to allow storage with liquid nitrogen
- Research Laboratory with Flow Cytometer, Fluorescent microscope, and appropriate storage facilities
- Teaching Laboratory with Hydraheaded microscopes, camera attachment and ICT connection.
- Day Care Wing providing 10 beds, drugs room, nurses room, washrooms, and records room
- General wards to accommodate 18 males and 18 females and high dependency ward to accommodate four beds
- Outpatient department (OPD) housing five suites and a small lab with mini coulter
- Bone marrow registry
- Faculty Practice Wing
- ICT will be deployed as an enabler to record, retrieve, analyze and share information on patients. The ICT infrastructure to be deployed will comprise:
- 20 computers with internet connectivity
- Software for entering all patient information and photographs on first attendance and
subsequent updates
- Patients’ data to be retrievable on computer at OPD suit i.e. laboratory information, drug
information, etc.
- Link to Cancer Register
- Offices for Consultants and Unit Administration
b.Support and implement successful evidence based community practices that provide awareness of leukaemia with the view to reducing the burden of leukaemia in Ghana, through behavioral community change and effective environmental and industrial management
c.Sponsor fellowships and scholarships programmes aimed at encouraging talented young scientists, medical graduates and researchers to pursue careers in basic, applied or translational research to find better cures and better ways to care for patients and families living with haematological malignancies
d.Support capacity building and enhance the viability of institutions and individuals involved in the vital research into the causes, epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment, psychological impact and ultimately cures for leukaemia, lymphomas, myeloma and related blood disorders
e.Encourage excellence in Leukaemia prevention and treatment initiatives by rewarding individuals and institutions that have accomplished remarkable results in prevention and treatment programmes.
*100: What have been the greatest challenges to accomplishing LPF's mission?
LPF: We would say we are still crawling but if corporate bodies will come on board that would help us achieve a goal of finishing the building in two years a reality.
*100: What is your vision for LPF's future?
LPF: Our vision is to see Ghana as one of the first countries in sub-Saharan Africa to have a cancer and genetic research center, which we hope to have in two years.
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