Bernd Montag, CEO of Siemens Healthineers, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“As my visit to Kenya comes to an end, I’m especially grateful for the time spent with partners working to improve access to care across a country that’s teeming with extraordinary energy, innovation, and commitment while at the same time dealing with very real gaps in care.
Despite the tremendous progress in healthcare across Kenya, too many people still reach the healthcare system too late, particularly when it comes to managing cancer and brain health. This is not because of a lack of effort or competence. Rather, it’s often due to limited access, constrained resources, and fragmented systems.
These challenges are becoming more urgent. By 2030, non-communicable disease (NCDs) such as cancer, neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases, and stroke are projected to overtake communicable illnesses as the leading cause of death in Africa. Providers and systems need to be prepared for this shift – and this is where I think partnerships throughout the entire healthcare ecosystem will play a significant role in overcoming the different challenges.
An important part of this visit was meeting with local healthcare experts and discussing how Siemens Healthineers can continue to support the country’s health system transformation. Our Varian business has had a long-standing local presence with capabilities focused on sustainability.
Along the same lines, we are working with the Redhill Cancer Center around a shared ambition to establish a flagship cancer center in the capital city of Nairobi, aimed at expanding access to quality and affordable cancer care in East Africa.
I saw collaboration at work through the City Cancer Challenge (C/Can) initiative in Nairobi. Since 2022, public and private stakeholders, patients, survivors, and community members have come together to shape priorities that focus on areas such as breast imaging, digital tools, capacity building, and gender equality in cancer care – several of which we are actively engaged.
Also encouraging was the progress of the Afya Dada (Health for Sisters) initiative that has trained more than 1,000 healthcare workers with the aim of screening 50,000 women for breast and cervical cancer. This project is part of the World Economic Forum’s Global Alliance for Women’s Health, with Kenya chosen as its first lighthouse country.
Another highlight was the exchange with our collaboration partners at AKU Brain & Mind Institute, where we are working together to advance research in neurodegenerative diseases, including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, through innovation and digitalization.
Thank you to my many conversation partners for sharing their perspectives – and their vision and commitment – to expanding access in Kenya where it matters most.”
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