On 17 October, the Global Pediatric Oncology symposium took place, ahead of the public PhD defense of Larissa Klootwijk. During the event, three speakers shared their insights on childhood cancer care in low- and middle-income countries.

The first speaker, Dr. Njuguna, a pediatric oncologist from Kenya, highlighted the importance of timely access to care and accurate patient data registration. Through international collaborations, survival rates for certain tumors—such as Wilms Tumor—have increased to around 60% in Kenya.

Laura van Tinteren, programme coordinator at Máxima International, emphasized the importance of sustainable and equitable international partnerships. She demonstrated how long-term collaboration can lead to structural improvements in childhood cancer care worldwide.

The third speaker, Dr. Mei Neni from Indonesia, presented recent data on treatment outcomes in Indonesia. Her presentation underscored the need for strengthened infrastructure, training of healthcare professionals, and enhanced collaboration to improve care quality and survival.

Following the symposium, Larissa Klootwijk publicly defended her PhD thesis on the Childhood Cancer Awareness Program in Kenya. The programme focuses on improving early recognition of childhood cancer through training of community members and healthcare workers, including an innovative SMS-based learning approach for primary healthcare providers.

The symposium attracted a diverse and international audience, including partners of the Princess Máxima Center from Kenya, Indonesia and the United States, students from Utrecht University and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Global Health physicians, and researchers in global health and pediatric oncology.

The day provided a valuable opportunity for knowledge exchange and collaboration, united by a shared ambition: improving childhood cancer care worldwide.