Leading cancer experts from around the world have convened in Nairobi for a landmark workshop aimed at improving cancer care across Sub-Saharan Africa. The three-day event, held from June 9 to 11, brought together the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), the African Cancer Coalition (ACC), and the American Cancer Society (ACS) under the umbrella of the ACS Global Academy Regional Workshop.
Hosted by the ACS, the workshop focuses on updating the NCCN Harmonized Guidelines™ to better reflect the realities of healthcare delivery in the region. These guidelines are critical tools for oncologists and health systems, offering evidence-based recommendations tailored to local challenges such as limited infrastructure, uneven access to medications, and varied patient needs.
“Our goal is to improve outcomes for cancer patients in the region by creating guidelines that are both scientifically rigorous and locally relevant,” said Dr. Anu Agrawal, Vice President of Global Cancer Support at ACS. “This workshop provides a platform to understand regional priorities and drive meaningful change.”
Revisions to the treatment protocols are expected across 15 types of cancer, including cervical, colorectal, bladder, ovarian, and liver cancers, diseases that are increasingly prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The U.S. delegation is led by Dr. Crystal Denlinger, CEO of NCCN, with support from top oncologists from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Northwestern University, and the University of Colorado Cancer Center. Together with African counterparts, they aim to ensure the guidelines are both aspirational and actionable within the region’s diverse healthcare settings.
With NCCN’s global platform already in use in over 190 countries, and nearly half of its two million users based outside the United States, the Nairobi workshop marks a significant step forward in promoting oncology equity and ensuring access to quality cancer care throughout Africa.
Written By Rodney Mbua
