The Pfizer Foundation has committed millions over the next three years to expand its “Action & Impact: A Cancer Care Initiative” in Kenya and Ethiopia. This investment aims to improve breast cancer outcomes by addressing late-stage diagnoses and enhancing access to care and treatment in sub-Saharan Africa.
Two partnerships will be empowered by this funding to tackle this challenge: the Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH) in Kenya, and Innovations in Healthcare in collaboration with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) in Ethiopia.
In partnership with their respective health ministries, they will seek to improve breast cancer care in low-resource settings by dismantling the systemic barriers that delay diagnosis and obstruct treatment.
While five-year breast cancer survival rates surpass 90% in many high-income countries, they stand at an average of just 40% across sub-Saharan Africa. In this region, breast cancer is the most common cancer, accounting for a significant portion of new cases, approximately one in three in Ethiopia and over 16% of all diagnosed cancers in Kenya.
This is brought about by late-stage diagnosis, limited access to treatment facilities, and cultural stigmas that can prevent women from seeking care. This grant will enable AMPATH to build upon its expansion in oncology services.
According to Dr. Philip K. Kirwa, Chief Executive Officer of Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, an AMPATH partner, support has played a major part in growing the sector. “In the last decade, AMPATH partners have significantly grown our oncology program in Kenya from serving just 150 patients a year to more than 200 patients each day.
With this new grant funding, we will build on this success to not only help improve breast cancer outcomes for women in Kenya but also generate insights to inform national policy and catalyze sustainable improvements in cancer care across the region,” said Kirwa.
In Ethiopia, the focus will be on transforming a landscape where advanced-stage diagnosis is tragically common and stigma is reduced. According to Dr. Krishna Udayakumar, Executive Director of Innovations in Healthcare, breast cancer remains a significant public health challenge as many women are diagnosed in advanced stages and have limited access to treatment.
“With The Pfizer Foundation’s support, we aim to partner with communities and health leaders to expand education, reduce stigma, and strengthen seamless and timely diagnosis and treatment, so that lifesaving care becomes the standard for every woman,” added Dr. Krishna.
This initiative is deeply aligned with Pfizer’s overarching mission to deliver breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. In fact, this investment elevates the foundation’s total dedicated funding for breast cancer equity to Sh3.23 billion ($25 million) across five countries.
“Since the launch of the Action & Impact initiative, we’ve seen meaningful progress across Rwanda, Ghana, and Tanzania, empowering communities to lead the charge and helping women gain access to breast cancer care that once felt out of reach. As our trusted partners collaborate closely with governments to strengthen health systems, engage communities, and decentralize diagnosis and care, we’re helping build a successful model to help ensure more women can receive the care they need when and where they need it,” said Darren Back, President of The Pfizer Foundation.
