Elizabeth Awo-Ejeh, Breast Cancer Survivor and Advocate, shared on LinkedIn:
“What does access really mean?
This is the question I couldn’t stop thinking about after speaking at Best of American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Africa 2026.
First, thank you to Project PINK BLUE, Runcie C.W. Chidebe for giving me the opportunity to represent the patient voice in such an important conversation. I’m also grateful to Dr. Rebecca DeBoer for moderating a discussion that challenged all of us to think beyond the science.
As I listened to experts talk about innovation, one thought stayed with me.
Innovation is only powerful when patients can actually access it.
For many people across Africa, the challenge isn’t that treatment doesn’t exist. It’s that it’s too expensive, too far away, or simply out of reach.
As patient advocates, we celebrate every scientific breakthrough. But we must also ask the difficult question:
Who is benefiting from these breakthroughs?
If access depends on where you live or what you earn, then we still have work to do.
For me, this conversation wasn’t just about medicines. It was about people. Families. Hope. And the responsibility we all share to build health systems where no one is left behind.
I left the session encouraged because everyone in that room, from clinicians and researchers to policymakers and advocates shared one goal: making access to quality cancer care a reality across Africa.
The conversation has ended, but the work continues.
Because innovation should reach every patient..not just the fortunate few.”
Other articles about access to care on OncoDaily.
