Establishing and Delivering Quality Radiation Therapy in Resource-Constrained Settings: The Story of Botswana.

There is a global cancer crisis, and it is disproportionately affecting resource-constrained settings, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Radiotherapy is a critical and cost-effective component of a comprehensive cancer control plan that offers the potential for cure, control, and palliation of disease in greater than 50% of patients with cancer. Globally, LMICs do not have adequate access to quality radiation therapy and this gap is particularly pronounced in sub-Saharan Africa.

Addressing the growing cancer burden in the wake of the AIDS epidemic in Botswana: The BOTSOGO collaborative partnership.

Botswana has experienced a dramatic increase in HIV-related malignancies over the past decade. The BOTSOGO collaboration sought to establish a sustainable partnership with the Botswana oncology community to improve cancer care. This collaboration is anchored by regular tumor boards and on-site visits that have resulted in the introduction of new approaches to treatment and perceived improvements in care, providing a model for partnership between academic oncology centers and high-burden countries with limited resources.

Cervical brachytherapy exchange: steps toward oncology capacity building in Botswana.

To help share technical knowledge of brachytherapy and the care of patients with cervical cancer in Botswana, a series of visits was organized by two centers in the United States, Massachusetts General Hospital and the University of Pennsylvania. As a result of those visits, necessary future steps were recognized. Such clinical visits are important for facilitating the exchange of knowledge and learning between institutions in developing and developed countries.