United by Unique: Advancing Breast Cancer Care in Zambia and Uganda

Every year, World Cancer Day serves as a powerful reminder of the collective effort needed to close the cancer care gap. This year’s theme, United by Unique, highlights the importance of prioritising treatment and care appropriate for an individual’s needs, with tailored solutions, and people-centred care. 

As in many parts of the world, breast cancer is a major health challenge in Zambia and Uganda, with many women diagnosed at late stages due to low awareness, limited screening services, and gaps in primary healthcare. Through the ‘A Focus on Breast Cancer project’ funded by Sanofi, Global Health Partnerships (GHP), in collaboration with Association of Breast Surgery (ABS), Blended Learning UK (BLUK), Ministries of Health, the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI), and the Zambia Cancer Diseases Hospital (CDH), is tackling these challenges head-on. 

As we mark World Cancer Day 2025, we reflect on the progress made and the work ahead in ensuring every woman, no matter where she lives, has access to life-saving breast cancer care. 

Empowering Health Workers to Reach More Women 

One of the biggest barriers to early detection is the shortage of trained health professionals at the primary and community levels. In Zambia and Uganda, specialist cancer care is concentrated in a few urban centres, leaving women in rural and peri-urban areas with limited access to screening and diagnosis. 

To address this, the project is training Primary and Community Health Workers to educate women about breast cancer, perform breast examinations, and make timely referrals. This decentralised approach ensures that breast cancer awareness and early detection are integrated into routine healthcare services at the community level. 

Key Achievements in 2024 

• 20 Master Trainers appointed (10 in each country) to lead the training of health workers across targeted regions. 
• Selection of priority implementation regions: Lusaka, Livingstone, and Ndola in Zambia; Mbarara and Arua in Uganda. 
• Launch of a 12-week online training course for Master Trainers, equipping them with the latest knowledge in breast cancer detection. 
• Stakeholder engagement and technical oversight, ensuring the training package aligns with national health priorities. 

This structured training model means that breast cancer knowledge is cascading down to thousands of health workers, bringing life-saving skills closer to communities. 

Raising Awareness: Breaking the Silence Around Breast Cancer 

Many women in Zambia and Uganda do not recognise the early warning signs of breast cancer, and myths surrounding the disease often lead to delayed medical attention. To bridge this gap, the project is integrating awareness campaigns into existing community health structures. 

Steps We Are Taking 

• Developing culturally relevant Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials in English and local languages, ensuring that breast cancer awareness messages are accessible to diverse communities. 
• Engaging with community health volunteers and survivor groups to amplify the message of early detection and self-examination. 
• Incorporating breast cancer screening messages into maternal and child health services, reaching women during routine healthcare visits. 

By making breast cancer awareness a part of everyday healthcare conversations, more women will be encouraged to seek early screening and medical support. 

As the project enters its next phase, key activities are planned to strengthen breast cancer care at the community level. A Breast Cancer Care Training Package will be finalised and rolled out to enhance the skills of health workers. Trained facilitators will lead in-country sessions, while digital learning platforms will be utilised to expand access to more health workers. Hands-on mentorship will provide additional support, and continued engagement with survivor groups and community champions will help raise awareness and foster peer support at the grassroots level. 

United by Unique: How You Can Support the Fight Against Breast Cancer 

Every contribution matter; whether it’s a health worker learning a new skill, a community leader raising awareness, or a policymaker advocating for better cancer care. 

• If you’re a healthcare worker, learn more about breast cancer detection and integrate it into your practice.
• If you’re a community leader, start conversations about breast cancer and encourage women to seek screening, to help advance equitable access to services
• If you’re a policymaker, push for stronger cancer prevention policies and more funding for early detection programmes and people-centred care.
• If you’re part of the global health community, support initiatives that expand access to breast cancer care in low-resource settings. 

As we commemorate World Cancer Day 2025, we reaffirm our commitment to making breast cancer care accessible to all women – no matter where they live or their circumstances. By working together, we can ensure that more lives are saved through early detection, timely treatment, and community-driven solutions.