Nairobi: The World Health Organization and the Aga Khan University have announced a landmark partnership to launch the first collaborative initiative in Africa focused on combating women’s cancers, specifically breast and cervical cancer. The initiative aims to address the high cancer burden in low- and middle-income countries by advancing evidence generation, capacity building, and implementation research.
According to Aga Khan University, this partnership is embodied in a Memorandum of Understanding signed between WHO and the University’s Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health, East Africa. This collaboration seeks to align with WHO’s 14th General Programme of Work, which emphasizes the need for improved access to quality cancer care as part of universal health coverage.
Cancer remains a significant health challenge, especially in countries like Kenya, where it is the second leading cause of death. Breast and cervical cancers constitute nearly half of all new cancer cases in the nation, necessitating enhanced prevention and treatment strategies.
Dr. Omar Albush, representing Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Health, highlighted the collaboration’s potential to expedite the adoption of human papillomavirus (HPV) screening, enhance diagnostic capabilities, and optimize treatment processes, including access to radiotherapy.
Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, noted the similarities between this initiative and WHO’s previous collaborations in Pakistan, which have successfully strengthened various health services and research efforts.
Professor Tania Bubela from Aga Khan University emphasized the pressing need to address non-communicable diseases, given their rising impact on health systems across the continent. She reiterated that the partnership aims to drive significant improvements in cancer prevention, diagnosis, and care.