title: North-South twinning in paediatric haemato-oncology: the La Mascota programme, Nicaragua.
abstract: We describe the La Mascota twinning programme between La Mascota paediatric hospital in Managua, Nicaragua, and hospitals in Monza and Milan, Italy, and Bellinzona, Switzerland. The programme was based on the belief that an attempt to reduce the gap in mortality from cancer in childhood between developed and less developed countries should become an integral part of the care and research activity of a haemato-oncological department of a developed country and not simply an exercise in solidarity. This programme for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia shows that intellectual, organisational, and financial resources can be generated by a twinning programme. What is vital for such programmes is a long-term commitment to a comprehensive and holistic strategy that incorporates supply of drugs, training and supervision of health professionals, and the care of the children and of their parents.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Clinic, University of Milan, S Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Masera
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Baez
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Biondi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cavalli
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Conter
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Flores
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fontana
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fossati Bellani
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lanfranco
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malta
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mendez
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ocampo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pacheco
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Riva
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sala
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sessa
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tognoni
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003906:Developing Countries; D005381:Financing, Organized; D006405:Hematology / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D007558:Italy; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D009527:Nicaragua; D010371:Pediatric Nursing / Q000193:education; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000628:therapy*; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D013557:Switzerland