How Collaboration is Changing the Story for Children with Cancer in Malawi

Earlier this month, World Child Cancer’s CEO Luke Thomas and Director of Programs Joe Dixon undertook a pivotal visit to Malawi to observe the impact of the organisation’s work on childhood cancer care in the region. Guided by Dr George Chagaluka, Chief Pediatric Specialist at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, and Richard Sabawo, Program Coordinator for Malawi, the visit provided powerful insights into the outcomes of ongoing collaborations and highlighted areas where further progress can be made.

A Visit Rooted in Collaboration 

The visit began at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, where Dr Chagaluka provided a comprehensive tour of the pediatric oncology ward. With enthusiasm and pride in the work being done, Dr Chagaluka reflected on the evolution of cancer care in Malawi:

World Child Cancer was the first organisation to train a pediatric oncologist in Malawi, and that was me! I’m so grateful for their trust in me. They’re now also training play therapists, nurses and other staff, and primary health carers in district hospitals

Dr. George Chagaluka
Chief Pediatric Specialist , Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital

This milestone is only one piece of a broader collaborative effort. At the hospital, the group also met with the Palliative Care Team and observed the vital work being done to provide comfort and dignity to families navigating the cancer journey.

To build a sustainable and effective palliative care system in Malawi, especially for children with life-limiting conditions, it is essential to strengthen partnerships between tertiary hospitals and local health facilities. Shared care centres are a key part of this approach, helping to deliver care closer to home for children in rural areas and reducing the need for long, often difficult, trips to tertiary hospitals. These centres are especially vital for patients who are too ill to travel.

To integrate palliative care into Malawi’s healthcare system, it is essential to secure funding, train healthcare workers, and ensure access to vital medications such as pain relief. Equally important is raising awareness—both among healthcare providers and the public—about the value and importance of palliative care.

Joe Dixon
Director of Programs, World Child Cancer

A New Phase with Amgen

Midway through the trip, World Child Cancer was joined by key representatives from Amgen: Sean Lybrand (Executive Director, Access to Healthcare), and Philip Anderson (Director, Access to Healthcare). This marked the first in-country visit as part of a five-year collaboration between Amgen and World Child Cancer aimed at improving access to childhood cancer treatment and support.

The visit included observing Early Warning Signs and Symptoms training, experiencing the healing power of play therapy, and engaging directly with doctors, nurses, and young patients. For Amgen, the experience provided a powerful affirmation of the collaboration’s potential.

By working with partners like World Child Cancer, we focus on providing a hand up, not a handout. Financial support goes toward strengthening healthcare systems, while access to essential medicines plays a crucial role in improving treatment outcomes.

Philip Anderson
Amgen, Director, Access to Healthcare

Together, the teams discussed forward-looking strategies, including innovations in haematology and the need for sustainable educational programs within hospitals.

Ensuring children can continue their education while in the hospital is about more than keeping them from falling behind. In Malawi, this program even conducts formal school assessments for admitted children. But more importantly, it sends a powerful message to families—your child is worth teaching because they are worth saving.

Sean Lybrand
Amgen, Executive Director, Strategic Lead- Access to Healthcare

The Proposed Intervention

With initiatives underway to enhance lab capacity, improve early diagnosis, and ensure children and families receive psychosocial and educational support, the Malawi program is a model of what can be achieved when mission-driven organisations and private collaborators work hand-in-hand.

While funding for programs will always be important, the collaboration with Amgen is about so much more than money or drug donations. Their understanding of the importance of taking a holistic approach, and their collaborative mindset, mean that we all bring our expertise and resources to delivering truly transformative programs.

Amgen’s collaboration with World Child Cancer addresses critical gaps in pediatric cancer care while also providing much-needed support to children and their families. Many of these services aren’t government-funded but are essential in helping families stay on the journey with their child—so they can one day ring the bell to celebrate a successful treatment outcome.

Luke Thomas
CEO, World Child Cancer

As this multi-year collaboration unfolds, it brings hope not only to children in Malawi but also to the global movement working to ensure that no child faces cancer alone—regardless of where they live.

Thank you, Amgen, for standing with us in building a world where every child has access to lifesaving cancer care.

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