Vaccine maker, AstraZeneca has joined forces with the Kenya Society of Haematology and Oncology (KESHO), Axios, the National Cancer Institute of Kenya (NCI), the Ministry of Health, and other partners to launch the first-ever Cancer Care Africa program in Kenya.
The programme aimed to improve access to and outcomes from cancer treatment in Kenya by equitably improving patient care pathways from diagnosis through treatment and beyond.
Through a co-creation approach, the initiative will foster collaboration among the oncology community.
Cabinet Secretary for Health, Kenya, Nakhumicha S. Wafula EGH, National Cancer Institute of Kenya, Elias Melly, and Executive Vice-President, Oncology Business Unit, AstraZeneca, Dave Fredrickson, graced the event on Wednesday in Nairobi, Kenya, marking the launch of the program.
Cancer has become a major public health concern in Kenya and across Africa. Latest figures from the World Health Organization show there were 44,726 cancer cases and 29,317 cancer deaths in Kenya in 2022.
This is set against a regional context that estimates 2.1 million new cases and 1.4 million deaths annually by 2040 across Africa.
To tackle the barriers, the executive vice-president, Oncology Business Unit, AstraZeneca, Dave Fredrickson, said each country that AstraZeneca works with, develops initiatives across the company’s four pillars of action which are building capacity and capabilities; enhancing screening and diagnostics; empowering patients ans enabling access to medicines.
