• Ghana launches the Oncology Nurse Leadership Program (ONLEP) to train specialized oncology nurses from seven African countries.

• The five-year program combines in-person and online training covering leadership, care quality, research, and advocacy.

• The initiative aims to reduce brain drain, improve cancer survival, and strengthen local oncology care systems.

Africa faces over one million new cancer cases annually but lacks enough qualified oncology professionals to provide effective care. To tackle this gap, Ghana launched a new training program to build specialized cancer care capacity across the continent.

On July 7, the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) unveiled the Oncology Nurse Leadership Program (ONLEP). Thirty nurses from seven African countries form the first cohort. The program is led by the International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care (ISNCC), the Geneva-based City Cancer Challenge Foundation (C/Can), and biopharmaceutical company Amgen.

ONLEP runs for five years. It combines two weeks of in-person training at UHAS with six months of online modules. The curriculum covers leadership, quality of care, psychosocial health, research, resource management, and advocacy.

Martha L. Ordóñez, Global Program Lead at C/Can, said, “By empowering oncology nurses with the tools to lead, advocate, and innovate, we are not only strengthening cancer care in C/Can cities but across the African continent.”

The program aims to make oncology nursing more attractive, reduce brain drain, and foster innovative, locally rooted care centers. Its success depends on sustainability, official recognition of skills, and integration into national health policies. Experiences in South Africa and Kenya show that specialized nursing pathways improve cancer survival through better follow-up care.

For Ghana, ONLEP offers a strategic chance to build lasting oncology capacity. However, it requires ongoing funding, strong political will, and seamless integration into healthcare systems.

This article was initially published in French by Félicien Houindo Lokossou (intern)

 Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum