Kenya’s Ministry Of Health Is Calling For Governments And Partners Across Africa To Expand Access To Cancer Care

The call from Dr. Ouma Oluga, Principal Secretary for Medical Services, comes as Breast Cancer Awareness Month draws to a close and attention turns to how Africa can improve outcomes beyond October.

Across sub-Saharan Africa, a 2026 review of more than 42,000 breast cancer patients across 28 countries found 63% were diagnosed at a late stage. And new WHO estimates reveal the consequences: median five-year breast cancer survival is just 39.1% in the African Region, compared with 84% in Europe and 88.5% in the Americas.

Accessing treatment can bring another challenge. A 2026 study at Kenyatta National Hospital found average costs associated with breast cancer care reached KES 2.14 million (US$14,255), with almost all patients using personal income or savings and some selling assets or taking out loans.

“No woman should have to choose between treating breast cancer and protecting her family’s financial future. Government cannot solve this challenge alone,” said Dr. Oluga. “We need the public and private sectors working together so women can be diagnosed earlier and have access to the medicines and care they need, at a cost families and our health system can sustain.”

That partnership approach is already being put into practice through Accord for a Healthier World, which is working with governments including Kenya, Rwanda and Ghana to expand access to medicines at not-for-profit prices and strengthen cancer care.

Would you be interested in interviewing Dr. Oluga? He can discuss what governments and partners across Africa can do to improve access to earlier diagnosis and affordable cancer treatment beyond Breast Cancer Awareness Month.