Isabel Mestres, CEO of City Cancer Challenge (C/Can), shared a post on LinkedIn:
“Impact in Action | Arequipa, Peru Q3 Updates
One of City Cancer Challenge (C/Can)’s unique strengths is that we go beyond needs assessments; we stay on the ground to help local teams implement solutions and measure impact. Systems change takes time, so progress doesn’t appear all at once, but we can already celebrate meaningful early wins.
As part of sharing our work more openly, I’m spotlighting Arequipa, Peru, where 136 stakeholders across six institutions are driving change together..
Here are a few highlights reported in Q3 2025, reflecting progress across multiple pillars of the health system:
Health Workforce
• Launch of the Oncology for Primary Care course with 2 universities
• Faculty and students trained through a blended online + simulation model
• One university has already committed to integrating the course into its medical curriculum from 2026
• The number of students trained in cancer competencies doubled this quarter (26 → 52)
Service Delivery
• Together with the Ministry of Health, Arequipa piloted Oncopeds, a new telemedicine module to support early detection and faster referral of childhood cancer
• The Medical Association and university launched a Palliative Care Diploma to expand access to high-quality care
Governance & Coordination
• Stronger alignment among universities, associations, hospitals, and authorities
• New joint planning mechanisms to ensure a coherent city-wide approach to cancer care
Quality & Information Systems
• Progress in selecting quality indicators across pathology, nuclear medicine, quality and safety, and multidisciplinary care
• Better use of data to guide decisions and monitor improvements
Systems impact happens when many parts move together, and Arequipa is advancing. Below you’ll find the full activity plan, progress to date, and a few photos of the incredible local teams leading the way.
Huge thanks to everyone driving this change for their community tagged in the group picture, with the coordination of Berenice Rodriguez Zea, MD and the support of Martha Ordoñez, Alfredo Polo, Maria F Navarro, Michael Gone, Paola Maldonado and many others.”
More posts featuring Isabel Mestres on OncoDaily.
