Miriam Mutebi, Breast Surgical Oncologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery at the Aga Khan University Hospital, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“I can’t help but think back to Geneva (earlier this week) on a session I’ve been working towards for a long time.
The Commonwealth Health Coordination (CHC) Forum. Session IV. Cervical cancer elimination.
The statistics, though stark, aren’t what struck me. I hinted at this in my previous post. The Common wealth represents 30% of the world’s population yet accounts for 43% of global cervical cancer mortality.
Then there was the leadership in that room. Not at all performative or symbolic. Just personal.
From Nigeria to Belize to Zanzibar, leaders using their platforms not simply to speak about women’s health, but to insist upon it. First Ladies and Spouses stepping into this conversation as public health actors, as champions, as trusted voices in communities where clinical messaging alone will never be enough.
Because policy changes systems. But trust changes behavior.
And what gives me genuine belief (not just hope) is that elimination is not theoretical. Rwanda. Zambia. Kenya. Bangladesh. Fiji. Belize. Different contexts, different challenges, different economies. But one shared message: progress is possible.
History will not ask us whether the science existed. History will ask why women continued to die after we already had the tools.
Writing from Lyon, still carrying yesterday’s conversations. More to share soon.”
Other articles featuring Miriam Mutebi on OncoDaily.
