The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) and the U.S. based National Cancer Coalition (NCC) have joined forces in the fight against cancer in Ghana, Uganda, and Burundi.

In March, ADRA distributed US$200,000 of methotrexate donated by the NCC for the treatment of pediatric cancer patients in Uganda and more than US$150,000 of methotrexate for cancer patients in Burundi. These medicines will be used to treat leukemia in more than 100 African children for the length of their disease.

In January, ADRA distributed more than US$200,000 of this cancer medicine donated by the NCC to the two largest hospitals in Ghana, the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi and the Korle-Bu Hospital in Accra. It will be used to help more than 60 young cancer patients throughout the duration of their illness.

ADRA and NCC plan to continue their partnership in other public cancer hospitals in Africa and also hope to begin educational programs that teach the community to detect and prevent cancer. “The National Cancer Coalition is pleased to be working with ADRA . . . to help cancer victims,” said D. Thomas Roane, NCC director of international programs. “The result of this wonderful collaboration is that now some of the most vulnerable and young cancer patients in the world have an opportunity to be cancer-free.”

Samuel Asante-Mensah, country director for the ADRA office in Ghana, agrees: “We are quite excited about this partnership. Because the NCC is bringing in these medicines, patients who cannot afford them will now have the opportunity to receive full care and a higher chance of survival.” He continued, “It is giving life to people.”

The NCC, headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana. supports cancer research and undertakes educational, prevention, and medical relief programs throughout the world. The Coalition’s international medical assistance program, NCC Cares, also provides requested pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, and hospital supplies to public hospitals and local humanitarian organizations that help the needy in more than 20 developing countries worldwide.

ADRA is present in 125 countries, providing individual and community development and disaster relief without regard to political or religious association, age, or ethnicity.