Elekta and Radiating Hope are expanding their partnership to bring radiation equipment to Latin American developing countries, and to educate medical staff and radiation oncology personnel about how to better help their patients requiring radiation therapy, including for cervical cancer.
Radiating Hope, a non-profit organization, works toward the goal of ensuring that no patient is denied potentially life-saving treatment just because the needed technology is not within their financial reach. The organization raises funds through a series of mountain-climbing events, with destinations like Mt. Rainier, Mt. Kilimanjaro, or the Everest Base Camp. Funds raised are used to refurbish replaced equipment from hospitals and clinics around the world and to ship them to a developing country.
“Radiating Hope has a mission to improve cancer care, specifically radiation oncology care in areas of the world where treatment can be hard to find,” Tom Ladd, Radiating Hope’s executive director, said in a press release. “We are very grateful for the support and partnership of Elekta in helping us to fulfill our mission. With Elekta’s guidance and involvement, Radiating Hope has been able to place radiation machines and equipment in Senegal, Tanzania, Guatemala, Honduras and Panama,” he said.
“The stronger partnership with Elekta will allow Radiating Hope to continue to support the areas of need in which we are engaged, particularly in Latin America and Africa,” Ladd added. “We look forward to working and partnering with Elekta for many years to come in order to bring needed treatment where, today, there is none.”
In 2015 an article titled “Expanding global access to radiotherapy,” published in The Lancet Oncology, estimated up to 26.9 million life-years could be saved if the global radiotherapy capacity were to scale up that same year. This would have a significant impact among low- and middle-income populations in developing countries worldwide.
“By expanding our partnership activities into Latin America, we aim to replicate the tremendous successes from our 2010 donation of a brachytherapy afterloader at the Institut Curie in Dakar, Senegal, which enabled thousands of Senegalese women with cervical cancer to receive treatment,” added Rachel White, head of Corporate Brand Management for Elekta.
To follow Elekta’s and Radiating Hope’s expanded collaboration, or to learn about the latest updates in cervical cancer-related news, subscribe to Cervical Cancer News, our free, weekly newsletter to receive it directly in your email inbox.