The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Aga Khan University's Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health, East Africa (CoEWCH, EA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the first WHO collaborative initiative in Africa focused on women's cancers, particularly breast and cervical cancer.
The initiative will advance work across three key pillars: evidence generation and synthesis, capacity building, and implementation research. Together, these efforts aim to bridge the gap between global normative standards and the realities of delivering health interventions in low- and middle-income settings.
Professor Marleen Temmerman, Director of CoEWCH, EA, said the MoU reflects the Aga Khan University (AKU)'s commitment to advancing awareness, research, innovation, and capacity building to improve access to equitable, quality cancer prevention and care. She noted that the partnership is also aligned with WHO's 14th General Programme of Work, which prioritises improved access to quality cancer care as part of universal health coverage.
The collaboration comes at a time when cancer is placing an increasing burden on health systems, especially in low- and middle-income countries, which account for more than 70 percent of cancer-related deaths globally.
In Kenya, cancer is the second leading cause of death, with approximately 25,000 new cases and 29,000 deaths recorded each year. Breast and cervical cancers account for nearly half of all new cancer cases in the country, underlining the urgency of stronger prevention, screening, diagnosis, and treatment efforts.
Speaking on behalf of Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Health, Dr Omar Albush, Director of Health Sector Coordination and International Affairs, said the collaboration will help accelerate the scale-up of human papillomavirus (HPV) screening, strengthen referral networks, improve diagnostic turnaround times and optimise treatment including access to existing radiotherapy assets.
He added, “Implementation research will help identify scalable models that reduce late-stage presentation and increase timely access to treatment and care."
Dr Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, draws parallels between WHO's collaboration with AKU in Pakistan and how joint efforts have advanced patient safety, strengthened sexual and reproductive health and rights, and supported clinical and implementation research that informs policy and improves care.
“The new initiative in Africa will support countries to design and deliver integrated one-stop service models for women's cancers," said Dr Balkhy. “Additionally, it will also strengthen the health workforce through training and specialist mentorship, while generating practical solutions to persistent barriers in screening, diagnosis, referral, and follow up."
Professor Tania Bubela, Provost and Vice President Academic at AKU, emphasised the growing urgency of addressing non-communicable diseases across the continent. With NCDs contributing to one in every 12 deaths in Kenya.
Dr Bubela shared that the rising burden of chronic disease is placing further strain on already stretched health systems. “This partnership will help drive action to improve prevention, cancer diagnosis and care," she added.
