The 2025 Aster Guardians Global Nursing Oncology nurse and Aster Guardians Award winner, Naomi Oyoe Ohene Oti, has launched a social intervention initiative aimed at strengthening cancer control systems and reducing disparities in access to quality care across Africa.

Dubbed: “Cancer Care Africa Foundation (CanCaF)”, it focuses on workforce development, policy advocacy, research and strategic partnerships to improve prevention, early detection, treatment and survivorship, particularly in underserved communities.

At the launch in Accra on Tuesday, Mrs Ohene Oti, who is the Executive Director of the Foundation, described cancer as a major public health challenge, adding that Africa accounted for about seven per cent of global cancer despite having less than three per cent of global oncology resources.

In Ghana, she said more than 24,000 new cancer cases were recorded annually, with over half of the patients dying largely due to late detection and limited access to quality care.

She further explained that the foundation’s vision was to ensure no African was denied quality cancer care because of where they live.

The mission of the foundation also focusses on strengthening health systems and improving patient outcomes.

Certificate programme

A key feature of the launch was the introduction of a Cancer Genetic Counselling Certificate Programme for oncology nurses in Africa (CGCP-ON Africa), to be delivered in partnership with the West African Genetic Medicine Centre (WAGMC), under which 40 oncology nurses across Africa would be trained within the next two years.

Mrs Ohene Oti said the programme would help promote early detection and prevention by identifying individuals at high risk before symptoms develop.

She added that the foundation would also prioritise awareness creation, workforce development and partnerships to reduce disparities and improve cancer care outcomes across Africa.

The Director of WAGMC, Dr Alma Bennett-Akwasi Kuma, said the initiative represented a meaningful shift in how cancer care was approached across the continent.

She emphasised the importance of integrating genetic knowledge into mainstream healthcare delivery to improve early detection, diagnosis and treatment outcomes.

“The centre, guided by a mission to advance knowledge in human genetics through teaching, research, service and community engagement, was leveraging its expertise to drive this effort,” Dr Kuma added.

Partnerships

In a speech read on his behalf, the ?Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, said the establishment of CanCAF further strengthened a workforce capable of delivering care that was both modern and compassionate.

“Government alone cannot address the cancer burden.

Partnerships between foundations, academia, professional bodies and international collaborators are essential.

“Together, we can ensure that cancer care in Ghana and across Africa becomes more accessible, more precise, and more humane.

“Initiatives like this does not only bring hope, but also restores dignity,” he said.