Hope for patients with Burkett Lymphoma in Sierra Leone

Since Rowaca Cancer Group started operations in 2007 as a non-governmental organization on cancer, our efforts have over the years centered on helping children with cancer. Most of the cases brought to us have often been cases of swollen neck and other swellings in the body with family members citing ‘Morpia’, a local name for the ailment in the Temne dialect, Northern Sierra Leone. We continuously raise the issue at our normal meetings citing lack of research on Morpia until we get the approval of the country’s forensic pathologist, Dr. Owizz Koroma, who carryout in-depth studies on Morpia and joined our call for intervention. As a result of our efforts and the support of Dr. Moses O. M. Sesay, a retired surgeon and former Member of Parliament, we were able to know that Morpia is a case of benign or malignant form of tumor, which normally is Burkett Lymphoma. We were made proud by Dr. Owizz Koroma when he pronounced during one of our cancer meetings that doctors at the Connaught Hospital are doing a research on Morpia. Today, doctors are looking at the issue of Morpia with efforts being made to address Burkett Lymphoma in the country with a team of medical doctors to be in Sierra Leone soon and will be working with doctors in Freetown and in the North. We shall be updating you of development as efforts to bring smiles on the faces of people with cancer continue in Sierra Leone. Alpha Bedoh Kamara Founder and team leader.