Pediatric Oncology in El Salvador

El Salvador, the smallest country in Central America, has 6 million inhabitants, almost 34% of whom are under 15 years of age. There is one national pediatric hospital, where approximately 175 new cases of cancer were diagnosed each year between 1996 and 2001.

Before 1993, the overall survival was only 10%; since 1994, local and international efforts have brought together a pediatric cancer program which has resulted in the survival increasing to 65% for patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

This program is the result of a collaboration between the Benjamin Bloom National Pediatric Hospital, the Fundacion Ayudame a Vivir and the International Outreach program of the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (SJCRH) in the USA. Its three main aims are: to secure access to knowledge and basic technology related to the field of pediatric cancer, to consolidate a multidisciplinary team, and to promote the education of children with cancer and their parents.

In this context the priority becomes integrated medical care. The program promotes the best medical practices of all the health care providers, it also raises the quality of support needed for modern treatment and develops the parents' skills in improving the nutritional status and general hygiene of the child with cancer. The greatest achievements of the El Salvador program includes the improvement in survival, establishing a multidisciplinary medical team and the coordination of local resources and international support.

Pediatric cancer is not a health priority for most countries with limited resources. Due to the transfer of knowledge and technology, international endeavors, like the INCTR, MISPHO and SJCRH initiatives, have significantly improved medical practice and have in a short time increased the survival of children with cancer.

Miguel Bonilla
Head of Oncology Service
Benjamin Bloom Hospital
El Salvador