Breast cancer council formed to tackle rising burden in Africa

 

Phanice Okuso, 60, a retired nurse conducting a breast cancer screening at Kakamega Oasis Multi-Specialty hospital. [Nathan Ochunge, Standard]

The Africa Breast Cancer Council has been officially launched in Nairobi, marking a significant step forward in the fight against the disease.

On Wednesday, African women leaders including surgeons, oncologists, first ladies and advocates said the council would address the growing burden of breast cancer, the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Africa.

Dr Miriam Mutebi, Kenya’s first female breast cancer surgeon and a member of the council, emphasised the urgency of tackling late diagnosis of breast cancer, which severely impacts survival rates.

“This council has chosen to launch during Breast Cancer Awareness Month to raise our collective voice and address the critical gaps in diagnosis and treatment across Africa,” said Dr Mutebi.

She said many African women face delays of up to six months before receiving a breast cancer diagnosis, which reduces chances of survival.

The council has set an ambitious five-year goal to reduce the time to diagnosis from six months to 60 days.

This initiative is essential, as more than 60 per cent of women in Kenya are diagnosed with breast cancer at a late stage.

Barriers such as healthcare inefficiencies, geographic distance to medical centers, and lack of awareness all contribute to these delays.

Kisumu County First Lady and Managing Trustee of the Africa Cancer Foundation Dorothy Nyong’o said: “The council will increase collaboration, improve data collection and enhance patient outcomes. We need systemic improvements in healthcare access and infrastructure to reduce the burden on African women,”

Wendy Cupido, General Manager of Roche South Africa and co-chair of the council echoed her sentiments saying the council, supported by biotech giant Roche, plans to work with healthcare systems open to innovation and partnership.

While highlighting the collective power of the members, Cupido said, “Our aim is to channel our expertise and energy into a collective force to focus on areas of concern. Together, we can drive lasting change.”

She said with a diverse and experienced leadership team, the Africa Breast Cancer Council is set to bring much-needed attention and resources to the breast cancer fight in Africa.