Kenya endorses global fund to strengthen equity in Cancer care

Kenya has expressed strong support for the newly launched Global Cancer Fund, a bold initiative designed to close the financing gap for cancer care in low and middle-income countries.

Speaking during a high-level panel at the launch in New York, Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Dr. Ouma Oluga, reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to advancing cancer prevention, early detection, treatment, and research.

He noted that cancer is now the second leading cause of morbidity and mortality from non-communicable diseases in Kenya, killing more people than HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis combined.

Kenya joined Uzbekistan, Uganda, Nigeria, Guatemala, and the Democratic Republic of Congo as one of the first countries to endorse the Fund, alongside non-state actors who declared their collective support for this global financing effort.

According to GLOBOCAN 2022 data, Kenya recorded 44,726 new cancer cases and 29,317 deaths, with breast, cervical, prostate, esophageal, and colorectal cancers being the most common.

Dr. Oluga highlighted the country’s progress under the National Cancer Control Strategy (2023–2027), which has expanded access to HPV vaccination, cancer screening, oncology infrastructure, and affordable treatment through the Social Health Insurance oncology benefits package.

The side event, convened at the Bloomberg building on the sidelines of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, brought together leaders from governments, multilateral institutions, the private sector, and civil society.

It marked the formal launch of the Global Cancer Fund, which seeks to mobilise $1 billion by 2030 to strengthen cancer systems, particularly in underserved regions.

Kenya was invited to commit goodwill toward the initiative and expressed interest in benefitting from its financing mechanisms, which are designed to complement national cancer control strategies and global health efforts such as the WHO’s Global Initiative for Cancer and the Cervical Cancer Elimination Strategy.

Dr. Oluga stressed that investment in cancer care is not only a health priority but also a development imperative.

He affirmed Kenya’s readiness to work with international partners to accelerate equity in cancer care and ensure that no patient is left behind.