Pfizer Foundation expands regional cancer care with new USD10M grant

KENYA/ETHIOPIA—The Pfizer Foundation has announced a significant three-year USD 10 million investment to strengthen breast cancer diagnosis, treatment, and care in Kenya and Ethiopia through its Action & Impact: A Cancer Care Initiative.

This substantial funding will support community-led and country-specific health solutions designed to address the growing burden of breast cancer across East Africa.

The initiative will work through established healthcare organizations in both countries to expand access to timely breast cancer diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care.

In Kenya, the Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH) will lead the program, while in Ethiopia, Innovations in Healthcare will spearhead efforts in partnership with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI).

The program will deploy advanced technologies to improve early detection and diagnostic accuracy.

These include digital imaging systems and artificial intelligence tools that can help identify breast cancer at earlier, more treatable stages.

Healthcare workers at the community level will receive comprehensive training to better recognize warning signs and guide patients through the healthcare system.

Beyond technology, the initiative will strengthen referral systems and data management infrastructure across both countries.

This will help ensure that women who receive a diagnosis can quickly access appropriate treatment.

The program will also work to increase access to chemotherapy and provide essential emotional support services for patients navigating their cancer journey.

The need for this intervention remains urgent, as breast cancer stands as the most common cancer diagnosis in sub-Saharan Africa, with stark statistics highlighting the regional healthcare gap.

In Ethiopia, breast cancer accounts for one in three new cancer cases, representing 32% of all cancer diagnoses.

In Kenya, the disease comprises 16.1% of all diagnosed cancers, affecting one in six cancer patients.

The survival disparities between high-income countries and sub-Saharan Africa reveal the magnitude of the challenge.

While women in many wealthy nations enjoy five-year survival rates exceeding 90%, women in sub-Saharan Africa face an average survival rate of just 40%, with this initiative directly targets this inequity.

Dr. Krishna Udayakumar, Executive Director of Innovations in Healthcare, emphasized the multifaceted approach needed to address breast cancer in Ethiopia.

He explained that the foundation’s support will enable his organization to expand education efforts, reduce stigma surrounding the disease, and strengthen seamless and timely diagnosis and treatment pathways.

The ultimate goal remains ensuring that lifesaving care becomes the standard for every woman facing breast cancer.

This new grant brings the Pfizer Foundation’s total investment through the Action & Impact initiative to USD25 million across five countries.

The foundation has already supported similar programs in Rwanda, Ghana, and Tanzania.

Darren Back, president of The Pfizer Foundation, reflected on the progress achieved since the launch of the Action & Impact initiative.

He noted that trusted partners have collaborated closely with governments to strengthen health systems, helping build a successful model that ensures more women can receive necessary care when and where they need it.