Isabel Mestres, CEO of City Cancer Challenge, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“The real test of a cancer strategy is what happens on the ground.
Yesterday, Kampala became the 18th city to join the City Cancer Challenge (C/Can) network.
Together with the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), the Ministry of Health, the Uganda Cancer Institute and the Uganda Cancer Society, we signed the MoU launching this collaboration.
But joining a network is not the milestone that matters most. Building a cancer system that works for patients is.
Across cities globally we see the same challenges:
- Late diagnosis
- Fragmented referral pathways
- Overstretched oncology workforce
- Uneven access to diagnostics and treatment
Addressing these gaps requires something different from traditional programs. It requires locally led implementation.
In Kampala, the work now begins: diagnosing system gaps, aligning partners, and designing solutions that fit the city’s reality.
Because global cancer commitments only matter if they translate into real care pathways for patients.
I’m grateful to the Ugandan leaders and partners driving this effort, with the support of Sanofi and BMS Foundation and excited for the implementation work ahead.
A special thank you to the Regional Director Sophie Bussmann-Kemdjo and all the C/Can team behind this launch!”
Other articles featuring Isabel Mestres on OncoDaily.
