Okunade Kehinde S, Okunowo Adeyemi A, Ohazurike Ephraim O, Anorlu Rose I
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, PMB 12003, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, PMB 12003, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria.
Ecancermedicalscience. 2020 Jul 17;14:1075. doi: 10.3332/ecancer.2020.1075. eCollection 2020.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare services in settings with under-resourced health systems such as that of Nigeria is likely to be substantial in the coming months. The gynaecological oncology services still need to be prioritised as an essential core health service. There are increasing concerns from both physicians and patients regarding how to manage patients diagnosed with cancer during this pandemic as evidence suggests a substantial increase in the risk of COVID-19-related deaths amongst patients with cancer. However, we recognise that despite this great challenge, we must continue to provide the highest quality of care to the patients, whereas, at the same time, ensure adequate safety not only for the patients and their families but also for the entire oncology team. We advocate that due to the widespread travel restrictions and inability to refer patients for the highest level of care at this period, centres without radiotherapy facilities as seen in most resource-limited settings should always consider lower level care options such as the use of chemotherapy pending when there is a better access to these facilities. We, therefore, developed this good clinical practice advice to staff of the gynaecological oncology unit in the centre and other resource-constrained settings for the management of patients with gynaecological cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic.
在未来几个月里,新冠疫情对尼日利亚等卫生系统资源匮乏地区的医疗服务可能会产生重大影响。妇科肿瘤服务仍需作为核心基本医疗服务予以优先考虑。医生和患者都越来越担心在这场疫情期间如何管理癌症确诊患者,因为有证据表明,癌症患者中与新冠相关的死亡风险大幅增加。然而,我们认识到,尽管面临这一巨大挑战,我们仍必须继续为患者提供最高质量的护理,同时,不仅要确保患者及其家人的安全,还要确保整个肿瘤团队的安全。我们主张,由于目前广泛的旅行限制以及在此期间无法将患者转诊至最高级别的医疗机构,在大多数资源有限的地区,如没有放疗设施的中心,应始终考虑较低级别的护理选择,如在有更好的放疗设施可用之前使用化疗。因此,我们为该中心及其他资源受限地区的妇科肿瘤科室工作人员制定了这份良好临床实践建议,以指导在新冠疫情期间对妇科癌症患者的管理。