Rakiba Dalhatu Yahaya, Program Coordinator at Medicaid Cancer Foundation shared on LinkedIn:
“The two days for me at Best of ASCO Africa 2026 provided an opportunity to engage with the latest evidence shaping cancer care and the practical steps required to improve outcomes across Africa.
As someone deeply interested in research, I left inspired by the quality and diversity of the scientific presentations which explored advances in oncology, patient-centered care, innovations in treatment, and the importance of strengthening the oncology workforce, and ensuring evidence informs policy and practice.
As part of the team at Medicaid Cancer Foundation, I could clearly connect many of these discussions with the work we do every day. Under the mentorship of Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, our efforts focus on strengthening cancer awareness, Patient navigation, supporting early detection, and contributing to policy development to expand access to care.
Conferences like this reinforce the value of translating scientific evidence into interventions that improve patient outcomes. Another important discussion centered on increasing African and Black representation in clinical trials and generating evidence that reflects the populations we serve to improve clinical decision-making and advance equitable cancer care.
The conference also provided me with an opportunity to engage with leading voices in global oncology, including Dr. Miriam Mutebi, Dr. Julie S. Torode, Julie Gralow, Ophira Ginsburg, Aisha Mustapha among many other advocates, clinicians, and researchers.
The whole conversations highlighted the value of collaboration in accelerating progress across the continent. One message stood out throughout the conference:
Building self-sustaining and interconnected health systems is fundamental to expanding access to cancer care.
The whole discussions closely align with the priorities outlined in the WHO Global Status Report on Cancer 2026, which advocates for people-centered cancer care, stronger health systems, equitable access to quality services, and the meaningful integration of patient experiences into cancer policies and programmes.”
Other articles about Best of ASCO Africa 2026 on OncoDaily.
