Health advocates have renewed calls for African governments to prioritise early detection and treatment of cervical and breast cancers, warning that late diagnosis remains a major factor behind high mortality rates among women across the continent.
Speaking at the Africa Press Day organised by Roche in Nairobi, Dorothy Nyong’o, Managing Trustee of the Africa Cancer Foundation and member of the Africa Breast Cancer Council, stressed that improving screening and treatment pathways could significantly reduce deaths from the diseases.
She noted that cervical and breast cancers remain the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women in Africa, with survival rates far below those in high-income countries. Statistics show that only about 50 per cent of African women diagnosed with breast cancer survive beyond five years, compared with more than 90 per cent in wealthier nations.
Ms Nyong’o said the situation demanded urgent action from governments and development partners, describing women’s health as central to the stability of families, communities and economies.
“Women’s lives matter because they keep our families going, and we need them to be healthy,” she said, adding that the issue had become both a moral and economic priority for African countries.
She called for increased funding for prevention programmes, lifestyle education, regular screening and early diagnosis, explaining that many women across the continent are diagnosed only when the disease has reached advanced stages.
According to her, improved patient navigation systems are also needed to help women move quickly from diagnosis to treatment, as many patients are often lost within complex healthcare systems.
She further advocated greater access to innovative therapies and palliative care, warning that delayed treatment not only increases suffering but also places a heavy burden on families and national economies.
The event, held under the theme “Health is Wealth,” brought together health experts, journalists, policymakers and representatives from organisations across Africa, including participants from Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Algeria, Tanzania, Morocco and Tunisia, alongside financial institutions such as African Export–Import Bank.
Participants also visited the EMPOWER Clinic at Mbagathi Hospital in Nairobi, one of several digital clinics established through a partnership involving Kenya Ministry of Health, National Cancer Institute of Kenya and Savannah Informatics.
The clinic forms part of the EMPOWER initiative, which supports timely cancer screening and treatment for women through digital health systems. Since the programme began in 2019, more than 235,000 women in Kenya have undergone screening, with over 12,000 patients registered on the digital platform that monitors their care journey.
Health advocates say expanding similar initiatives across Africa could significantly improve early detection and treatment outcomes for women facing cervical and breast cancers.
