TDCF joins St. Jude Global Alliance to improve pediatric cancer outcomes in Nigeria, Sub -Saharan Africa

To improve pediatric cancer outcomes in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa, a non-profit organisation – Dorcas Cancer Foundation (TDCF) has joined the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Global Alliance, a network dedicated to advancing the fight against pediatric cancer worldwide.

This milestone places TDCF as one of the leaders in pediatric cancer care, advocacy and education in Nigeria and on the global stage. By joining the alliance, a network of more than 180 institutions and organisations across over 80 countries, TDCF will gain access to unparalleled resources, global expertise and innovative collaborations.

This partnership also provides opportunities to integrate global solutions into local strategies, strengthening pediatric oncology care throughout Nigeria.
Founded by Nigeria’s first certified pediatric radiation oncologist, Dr Adedayo Joseph, TDCF has spent more than a decade addressing critical gaps in pediatric cancer care.

Joseph said the foundation has consistently advanced the detection, diagnosis, treatment, training, patient education, and palliative care for childhood cancer, as well as supported hundreds of children across the country.

Joseph, who received specialised training in pediatric radiation oncology in Germany, Australia, South Africa, and the United States, stated that the milestone reflects the dedication of TDCF’s team to improving the lives of children with cancer in Nigeria.

“We are outlandishly strict about structure, order, policy, and science. Every project is designed to be replicable, sustainable, and scalable. We constantly evaluate to ensure that every initiative improves pediatric cancer survival,” Joseph said.

The foundation’s programmes such as the Early Detection and Initiation of Cancer Treatment (EDICT) and the Look Again campaign, have trained primary healthcare workers in early cancer detection, creating life-saving referral pathways.

Joseph also noted that TDCF’s Pediatric Radiation Oncology Virtual Course (PedROC) has trained more than 1,000 professionals, including radiation oncologists, nurses, physicists, and therapists, from over 50 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, South America, and beyond. She emphasised that joining the St. Jude Global Alliance strengthens TDCF’s ability to deliver on its mission and expand its impact.

“This partnership reflects our unwavering commitment to the children we serve,” she stated.TDCF Chief Operating Officer, Dr Korede Akindele, underscored the significance of the alliance, noting that the partnership is an opportunity to elevate the standard of care for children with cancer in Nigeria.

Akindele said the collaboration empowers TDCF to expand its programmes, enhance capacity-building efforts, and deepen advocacy for equitable healthcare.

“Together with the St. Jude Global Alliance, we are poised to revolutionise pediatric oncology in the region.”

We are deeply humbled to join this global mission to find cures and save children everywhere,” Akindele stated.He said the collaboration represents a fusion of local knowledge and global innovation, as well as underscores the foundation’s commitment to ensure no child in Nigeria is left behind in the fight against cancer.

He noted that as the first Nigerian organisation to join the alliance, TDCF is set to redefine pediatric cancer care in Nigeria, while contributing to the global fight against childhood cancer.