Experts Seek Support For Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Patients

MEDICAL experts during the week converged at Ile-Ife, Osun State, to chart a way forward for those living with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) in the country.

With theme as ‘Today, Together,’ the event, which was organised by Maxcare Foundation Nigeria in collaboration with CML Advocates Network, as part of activities to mark CML Day across the globe and to create awareness about the disease, also witnessed different experts talk about how to have better access to treatment with all available Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKls).

Speaking at the event, CML patient and co-founder of CML Advocates Network, Jan Geissler, said: “Advances in treatment and care have transformed CML into a disease that patients, if effectively treated, could live a normal and long life.”

According to Geissler, challenges like access to high quality therapies and diagnostics, adherence to therapy, effective side effect management and development of a cure can only be tackled in partnership with patients, healthcare providers and researchers.

He called for government intervention in form of Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) to enable patient access their drugs, which are usually very expensive.

President, Maxcare Foundation in Nigeria, Eunice Orekha, said, ‘‘our key concern in Nigeria are the second and third line TKls for Imatinib (Glivec)-resistant CML patients that are very expensive and there is the need for support from corporate organisations.

She disclosed that the disease is caused by the change of chromosomes 9 and 22, which is why World CML Day (9/22) carries a symbolic significance for the patient community.