Ouagadougou:The radiotherapy department at Bogodogo University Hospital in Burkina Faso is striving for international recognition. Dr. Bertrand Compaore, the department head, highlighted the center's potential for growth beyond its current role as a sub-regional hub during a recent press visit.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the hospital attracts cancer patients from across West Africa, including countries such as Ivory Coast, Niger, Mali, Chad, and Rwanda. The department has become a key medical resource in the region.

Dr. Compaore emphasized the need for enhanced technical support and ongoing training to achieve international status. The center is equipped with advanced technologies, including two linear accelerators, VitalBeam and Halcyon, and a brachytherapy device, allowing it to perform treatments like intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT).

The facility can theoretically treat over 1,500 patients per year, although it currently serves between 300 to 400 patients, mainly for breast and cervical cancer. A social policy by the Burkinabe government provides free treatment for common cancers, such as breast, cervical, and prostate cancers, as well as pediatric cancers and care for indigent people.

Patients like 75-year-old Comrade Kam Jean-Claude, receiving prostate treatment, have praised the effectiveness of the care and the free services offered. He noted significant improvements in his health and commended the authorities for their initiatives.

Burkina Faso currently hosts three radiotherapy centers, with one in Bobo-Dioulasso and two in Ouagadougou, including the Bogodogo center inaugurated in December 2021.