TICKET SALES CLOSED (31st Aug): contact 07523004569 if more required. 

We are raising money to support the Cancer Diseases Hospital (CDH) in Lusaka.  CDH is the only cancer treatment centre in Zambia for adults and children and through the Brighton Medical School “Lusaka Link”, CDH and the Sussex Cancer Centre have developed a project to improve radiotherapy accuracy and safety. 

Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally (accounting for about 1 in every 6 deaths), of which approximately 70% occur in low- and middle-income countries.  About 60% of people diagnosed with cancer require radiotherapy during their treatment, but only 24 of the 54 countries in Africa have even one facility. The CDH currently has 3 radiotherapy machines for a population of nearly 20 million people (we have 8 machines in Sussex for about 1.5 million people) and has ambitious plans to build new cancer centres over the coming years. 

The CDH has good radiotherapy and chemotherapy capability, but faces challenges in up-skilling its new work force. Our project involves oncologists, medical physicists, radiotherapy planners (dosimetrists) and radiographers with an aim to improve quality assurance surrounding cancer treatment delivery and assist with training health professionals to improve human capacity.   Partnerships such as this, between well established and emerging cancer centres, are key for capacity development by filling trainer gaps, providing mentorship and reducing professional isolation in new centres.