Washington, D.C., February 12, 2026 (PAHO) – More than 160 health professionals from the Andean subregion are collaborating on a project to strengthen capacity for pediatric cancer care, with a special focus on pediatric hematopoietic transplantation (HT) in their region. This initiative is part of a cooperation agreement signed between the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and SJD Barcelona Children’s Hospital, a global reference center in pediatric oncology.
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in childhood and adolescence. In Latin America and the Caribbean, an estimated 30,000 new cases are diagnosed each year and nearly 10,000 children die from the disease. The likelihood of survival largely depends on the country where a child lives: in high-income countries, more than 80% of children with cancer are cured, while in many low- and middle-income countries survival is below 30%, due in part to late diagnoses and limited access to timely, comprehensive, high-quality treatment.
The Andean subregion has a pediatric cancer mortality rate above the regional average (5.3 deaths per 100,000 children and adolescents, compared with 4 per 100,000 in Latin America and the Caribbean). Nevertheless, Ministries of Health have demonstrated a strong commitment to strengthening childhood cancer services and advancing more equitable and timely care.
The project has supported the formation of a multidisciplinary team from Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela, comprising hematologists, oncologists, pediatricians, nurses, pharmacists, health managers, as well as national and re