A group of African women leaders have come together to form the Africa Breast Cancer Council in an effort to combat rising cases.
In an announcement to mark World Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the women said they will be partnering with Roche, one of the world’s largest biotech companies.
The women said the council aims to address the critical issue of breast cancer, which is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in Africa and accounts for the highest number of cancer-related deaths in this demographic.
The formation of the council comes at a time when breast cancer survival rates in sub-Saharan Africa are alarmingly low, with only one in two women expected to survive five years post-diagnosis.
“This disparity is attributed to systemic healthcare inefficiencies, limited access to specialized care, and widespread stigma surrounding breast cancer,” the statement reads.
"In Kenya, for instance, over 60 per cent of breast cancer cases are diagnosed at late stages, which drastically reduces survival chances and increases treatment costs.”
Comprising notable figures such as Dr. Miriam Mutebi, Kenya's first female breast cancer surgeon, and Dorothy Nyong'o, First Lady of Kisumu County, the Council aims to leverage their collective expertise to drive policy changes across Africa.
Additionally, they plan to focus on fostering collaboration among healthcare systems, improving data collection, and enhancing patient outcomes.
Their work will prioritise systems that are open to innovative partnerships and aim to scale successful strategies continent-wide.
Moreover, they intend to reduce the average time for a breast cancer diagnosis from six months to 60 days, addressing barriers such as a lack of awareness about self-examination and the challenges posed by geographic distance to health facilities.
Wendy Cupido, Co-chair of the Council and General Manager at Roche South Africa, emphasised the importance of harnessing their collective knowledge and influence to advocate for critical areas of concern in breast cancer care.
Dr Magda Robalo, another member of the Council, highlighted the preventable injustices faced by many African women who receive late diagnoses and insufficient treatment.
“Overall, the Africa Breast Cancer Council represents a vital step toward systemic change in breast cancer care in Africa, aiming to improve healthcare infrastructure, enhance access to services, and ultimately save lives,” the statement reads.