Miriam Mutebi: Celebrating AORTIC-Africa’s 40th Anniversary

Miriam Mutebi shared a post on LinkedIn:

“As AORTIC- Africa recently marked its 40th anniversary, we reflect on how far we’ve come and the pivotal role our partners play in shaping Africa’s cancer care landscape.

Our journey has been of collaboration & resilience, and without these partnerships, it’s safe to say our progress thus far would have been impossible.

Looking ahead, as we finalize our strategic review and enter our new four-year work plan, high-level advocacy and stronger alliances are more crucial than ever. Our talks with the Africa Centre for Disease Control (CDC), World Health Organization African Region, and other policymakers are aimed at supporting AORTIC in expanding its role in cancer care policy across the continent.

Our partnerships with the International Cancer Control Partnership (ICCP) and local heads of National Cancer Control Programs (NCCPs) in Africa ensure that cancer care remains a priority for African policymakers and that funding for cancer infrastructure, diagnostics, and treatment is adequately allocated.

Collaborations, such as our MOU with American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), our growing engagement with the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), & partnerships with local societies like the Kenya Society of Haematology & Oncology (KESHO), & more recently Ethiopia Society Haemotology & Oncology (ESHO) & the Malawi Cancer Society, are the backbone of our progress.

Additionally, support from organizations like the International Society of Nursing (ISNCC), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and research initiatives with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) through the Beginning Investigator Grant for Catalytic (BIG CAT) research grant, alongside other training and education initiatives, have enabled us to drive research and develop crucial programs across Africa.

Partnerships with research consortia like the Network for Oncology Research in Africa (NORA), local & international cancer centers like MD Anderson Cancer Center, and academic institutions such as AGA KHAN UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, EAST AFRICA, University of Cape Town, King’s College London, and the University of Florida, have all helped to advance continental knowledge & expand the skills of our workforce.

Our advocacy champions, including Benda Kithaka, Runcie C.W. Chidebe, and Kwanele Asante, are also key in raising the profile of patient voices in our region.

As we reflect, we recognize the ongoing need for sustainable and equitable partnerships. The future of cancer care in Africa will depend on these collective efforts, and we are committed to deepening our strategic collaborations to ensure improved cancer care for all. Without these partners, our progress—and the hope we offer millions of patients—would be far less achievable.

Below are pictures of some of my colleagues and partners at various events in the past year.”

Source: Miriam Mutebi/LinkedIn

Miriam Mutebi is a Breast Surgical Oncologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. She is the President of the African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC), and past president for Kenya Society of Hematology and Oncology (KESHO) and on the Board of Directors of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC). She is the co-founder of the Pan African Women’s Association of Surgeons and is part of the Kenya Association of Women Surgeons. She is an avid supporter for the education and support for women, especially in surgery and she aims to provide mentorship for women in surgery and to improve women’s health and surgical care in Africa. She is currently pursuing a pilot’s license in order to extend breast care services to marginalized areas.