Dr. Miriam Mutebi is the first African oncologist to sit on the board of directors of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC). – By Gerald Gekara
She was elected to serve the board for a period of two years to help steer the third largest organization globally in driving cancer prevention and control strategy.
UICC Board President Anil D’Cruz made the announcement following a competitive election by the UICC General Assembly in which she came up ahead of other global cancer leaders.
Mutebi, a seasoned breast cancer surgeon, clinical epidemiologist and health systems researcher will not only represent Kenya, but also the African continent in formulating future policies.
She vowed to push for unique African attributes including language, to be considered and captured when experts are designing cancer policies for the continent.
“This is an excellent opportunity for us in Sub Saharan Africa and for Kenya specifically to ensure that the global discussion on cancer policy and strategy, patient care and advocacy, is afro centric as much as possible,” she stated.
Her appointment, she says will go a long step in achieving Kenya’s dream of being a technological and medical hub for patients in and around Africa.
“This is a major project that will help position Nairobi as a future-ready city with modern infrastructure and human resources to effectively manage cancer cases,” she stated.
