City Cancer Challenge New 7-year Initiative: “Cities Taking Action for Gender Equity in Cancer Care”

City Cancer Challenge is Implementing Tailored Interventions to Enhance Cancer Care for Women in Three Key Cities

The City Cancer Challenge has launched a new seven-year initiative, “Cities Taking Action for Gender Equity in Cancer Care,” with a budget of $10 million, aimed at addressing the growing gap in cancer care for women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

This initiative was announced during the 2024 Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Annual Meeting, coinciding with the 79th United Nations General Assembly week. It was developed in response to the insights and recommendations from the landmark Lancet Commission report, “Women, Power, and Cancer.” The initiative seeks to incorporate a gender-responsive health systems approach in 15 cities across Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America.

“C/Can is helping create a world where every individual has equitable access to essential cancer care because neither where a person lives, nor their gender, should impact the quality of the care they receive. We’re proud to launch this ambitious seven-year initiative with foundational support from key partners and call on others to join us in shaping the future of cancer care through innovative, locally driven interventions.” – Isabel Mestres, CEO of  City Cancer Challenge

City Cancer Challenge’s new strategy will build on its effective city engagement model to develop interventions tailored to the specific needs of local populations. This approach can later be adapted for regional and national contexts. By focusing on localized challenges, the initiative will provide customized solutions, empowering local leaders to take ownership and drive change, ultimately resulting in improved outcomes and more sustainable advancements in cancer care.

The initiative will launch in three cities: León, Mexico; Nairobi, Kenya; and Tbilisi, Georgia, where significant gaps in cancer care access for women have been identified and approximately 3.8 million women reside.  Insights and evidence regarding effective solutions will be documented and shared with other cities and countries within the City Cancer Challenge’s network and beyond, aiming to benefit all 1.7 billion women living in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

“Cancer has been a long-overlooked priority in women’s health, reinforced by structural power imbalances in almost every country. It is important that the global community take steps toward advancing new intersectional approaches to cancer care and engage leaders from within the communities most impacted to drive change within and beyond the healthcare system.” – Ophira Ginsburg

The $10 million commitment was made possible thanks to generous contributions from foundational partners such as Amgen, Global Focus on Cancer (backed by Eli Lilly and Company), MSD, Roche, and Siemens Healthineers, along with support from local healthcare ministries. C/Can is inviting more stakeholders to join its partnership across 15 cities by contributing financial resources, in-kind support, and technical expertise. This collaborative effort aims to ensure gender-equitable cancer care through innovative, locally-driven interventions.

Here is what healthcare organizations and professionals are sharing on social media:

City Cancer Challenge:

” BIG NEWS! Together with our enabling partners Amgen, Global Focus on Cancer (US charitable organisation supported by donations from Eli Lilly and Company), MSD, Roche, Siemens Healthineers and others, this morning on the CGI2024 Clinton Global Initiative world stage, C/Can proudly launched a bold, new 7-year, $10M initiative to help address the widening Cancer Care gap among women living in resource-limited settings in low- and middle-income countries. Because neither where a person lives, nor their gender, should impact the quality of the care they receive.

Developed in response to findings of the Women, power, and cancer: The Lancet Commission and informed by our Advisory Board of women in these countries, this new strategy uses our proven city model to shape interventions that meet the unique needs of local populations, while centring Gender Equity. Learn more and get involved.”

Isabel Mestres:

“We’re helping create a world where every individual has equitable access to essential cancer care because neither where a person lives nor their gender should impact the quality of the care they receive.

I am very proud to launch this ambitious 7-year initiative with foundational support from key partners and call on others to join us in shaping the future of cancer care through innovative, locally driven interventions.

Learn more and get involved.”

Amgen:

“We’re proud to support a new City Cancer Challenge initiative launched today at the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting CGI2024.

Spurred by The Lancet Commission on Women, power + cancer, it centers Gender Equity + local needs of women living in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) to advance Cancer Care.

Learn more about this news.”

Nur Aishah Mohd Taib:

“Gender equity means equity for all, inclusiveness and justice. Intentionally building respectful and responsive health systems around the world. Leaving no one behind.

Excited that we will put the patient at the centre and address the non-medical social determinants of health that severely affect cancer outcomes greater petaling city cancer challenge Derrick Z CHAN, Ros Suzanna A Bustamam, Sheamini Sivasampu, Eliana Ahmad.

Thank you City Cancer Challenge and partners, a wonderful birthday present. I am proud and blessed to be part of this global collective movement.”

Sean Lybrand:

“Amgen is very pleased to be partnering with other funding organisations to support a stronger focus on gender equity in LMICs. Thank you for the opportunity to contribute City Cancer Challenge!”

Ophira Ginsburg:

“Amazing news! Thank you City Cancer Challenge for taking our research and recommendations forward into real actions!!”

Harold Cottin:

“City Cancer Challenge is launching a new, ambitious initiative to support transition towards gender-responsive healthcare systems and improve access to cancer care for women in LMICs, with the support of Amgen, Global Focus on Cancer (US charitable organization supported by donations from Eli Lilly and Company), Roche and Siemens Healthineers.

This has just been announced at the CGI2024 Clinton Global Initiative.

This is bold, this is impact, this is C/Can!”

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