Kenya, Siemens Healthineers launch coalition to combat breast and cervical cancers

Kenya has accelerated the efforts to combat breast and cervical cancers as a national scourge.

This is after the Ministry of Health in partnership with Siemens Healthineers launched the Breast and Cervical Cancer Coalition.

The initiative was launched on the sidelines of the 77 World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, Switzerland. 

Breast and cervical cancer currently constitute over half the cancer burden for women in Sub-Saharan Africa and in Kenya.

They are responsible for almost a third of all the annual cancer-related deaths.

The coalition is expected to provide ministers of health worldwide access to an expert network of partners and resources and facilitate in-country workshops for peer-to-peer exchange.

It will also help identify gaps and challenges where it can support public health goals.

Kenya being one of East Africa’s most populous countries, provides a case study on the severity of the problem.

Health CS Susan Nakhumicha said the coalition is a platform to accelerate and foster unprecedented collaborations and meaningful solutions between key stakeholders uniquely positioned to expedite action.

This coalition will respond to the country’s needs and challenges, she said.

According to Nakhumicha, Kenya had been selected as the first Lighthouse country to champion efforts to mobilize multi-stakeholder commitments.

"The selection of Kenya as a coalition lighthouse country is much appreciated," Nakhumicha said.

"I believe in the importance of this collaboration to address women's cancers through customised impact-focused interventions, in line with Kenya’s priorities and plans for the realisation of Universal Health Coverage," Nakhumicha noted.

The coalition aims to close the women’s health gap, including innovative financing, supporting women’s health innovation, and amplifying a global agenda on the importance of healthy women to drive social and economic gains.

Nakhumicha said the initiative will contribute towards the implementation of the National Cancer Control Strategy (2023-2027).

This, she said, is in alignment with the WHO elimination strategy and activities, and other existing activities in managing Breast and Cervical Cancer in the country.

“Bridging the women’s health gap and promoting healthy and long lives for women everywhere depends on political will, country-led action investments, and sustainable multisectoral partnerships," Elisabeth Staudinger said.

Staudinger is a member of Siemens Healthineers Managing Board.

"With these elements in place, we can make strides to ensure women have equal representation in all aspects of healthcare,” Staudinger said.

According to the Global Cancer Observatory data for Kenya, breast cancer remains the most diagnosed cancer, with an annual incidence of 7,243 and 3,398 cancer-related deaths.

Cervical cancer is highly detectable and curable, and yet still one of the most common cancers worldwide.

It ranks as the country’s second-most frequent cancer among women and is Kenya’s leading cause of cancer mortality overall.

Earlier this year during the Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, the CS  outlined measures to address the challenge.

These include comprehensive coverage of screenings, diagnostics, and treatments under the Social Health Authority (SHA), with a significant allocation earmarked specifically for cancer care.