title: Achieving optimal cancer outcomes in East Africa through multidisciplinary partnership: a case study of the Kenyan National Retinoblastoma Strategy group.
abstract: Strategic, interdisciplinary partnerships are essential to addressing the complex drivers of health inequities that result in survival disparities worldwide. Take for example the aggressive early childhood eye cancer retinoblastoma, where survival reaches 97 % in resource-rich countries, but is as low 30 % in some resource-limited nations, where 92 % of the burden lies. This suggests a need for a multifaceted approach to achieve a tangible and sustainable increase in survival.
  
  
  
  We assembled the history the Kenyan National Retinoblastoma Strategy (KNRbS), using information documented in NGO reports, grant applications, news articles, meeting agendas and summaries. We evaluated the KNRbS using the principles found in the guide for transboundary research partnerships developed by the Swiss Commission for Research Partnerships with Developing Countries.
  
  
  
  A nationally co-ordinated approach drawing input and expertise from multiple disciplines and sectors presented opportunities to optimise cure of children with retinoblastoma. Annual meetings were key to achieving the over 40 major outputs of the group's efforts, related to Awareness, Medical Care, Family Support and Resource Mobilization. Three features were found to be critical to the KNRbS success: multidisciplinarity, consistency and flexibility.
  
  
  
  The KNRbS has achieved a number of key outputs with limited financial investment. As a partnership, the KNRbS meets most of the criteria identified for success. Challenges remain in securing the long-term sustainability of its achievements. Elements of the Kenyan National Retinoblastoma Strategy may be useful to other developing countries struggling with limited survival of retinoblastoma and other cancers or rare diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave., Room 7265, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada.
authors.forename: Jessica A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: Kahaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kimani
authors.affiliation: World Eye Cancer Hope (formerly Daisy's Eye Cancer Fund - International).
authors.forename: Abby
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: White
authors.affiliation: Daisy's Eye Cancer Fund-Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: Faith
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barasa
authors.affiliation: World Eye Cancer Hope (formerly Daisy's Eye Cancer Fund - International).
authors.forename: Morgan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Livingstone
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave., Room 7265, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada.|Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Sciences, Faculty of Medicine & Division of Clinical Public Health, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Brenda L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Gallie
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave., Room 7265, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada. helen.dimaras@utoronto.ca.|Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Sciences, Faculty of Medicine & Division of Clinical Public Health, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. helen.dimaras@utoronto.ca.|Division of Clinical Public Health, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. helen.dimaras@utoronto.ca.|Department of Human Pathology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya. helen.dimaras@utoronto.ca.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dimaras
mesh_terms: D000351:Africa, Eastern; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D006285:Health Planning / Q000379:methods*; D006291:Health Policy / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D012175:Retinoblastoma / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: Capacity building; Global health; Kenya; Multidisciplinary; Multisectoral; Partnership; Retinoblastoma