AMPATH launches new model to boost breast cancer care nationwide

Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Ouma Oluga and the Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH) during a meeting February 25, 2026/MoH

AMPATH Kenya has officially launched the Integrated Model for Access, Retention and Advanced Breast Cancer Care, a new initiative designed to improve access to high-quality cancer care across the country.

The launch took place at Afya House and was attended by the Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Ouma Oluga.

During the event, the AMPATH team outlined the three-year project, noting that it aims to reduce the burden of breast cancer in Kenya by strengthening interventions across the entire continuum of care.

The programme will enhance community awareness and prevention efforts, build healthcare worker capacity through targeted training, and improve service delivery systems.

The initiative will also expand access to timely diagnosis and treatment through structured patient navigation and coordinated referral mechanisms.

According to the AMPATH team, the project seeks to optimise care delivery platforms while generating implementation evidence that can inform national guidelines and health policy.

The programme is expected to reduce late-stage presentation of breast cancer, improve retention in care, and ultimately enhance survival outcomes nationwide.

Addressing the launch, Oluga emphasised the importance of a holistic, community-based approach to cancer care. He said the initiative should “prioritise patient-centred care and incorporate digital solutions at the community level.”

He encouraged the use of digital tools to monitor and address patient challenges, including distance to healthcare facilities and financial constraints.

Oluga also highlighted the role of citizens in the initiative, urging them to actively engage with the healthcare system through advocacy and sensitisation efforts.

“Digital tools can empower communities, enhance monitoring, and support timely interventions for patients,” he said.

The Integrated Model for Access, Retention and Advanced Breast Cancer Care represents a significant step toward improving cancer outcomes in Kenya.

By combining community awareness, healthcare worker training, coordinated patient navigation, and digital solutions, the initiative aims to create a comprehensive system that supports patients from early detection through treatment and follow-up care.

AMPATH Kenya’s launch signals the country’s commitment to addressing the challenges of breast cancer care, ensuring that patients across all regions have access to timely and effective services. The three-year programme is expected to serve as a model for improving cancer care delivery and informing future health policies nationwide.

Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Ouma Oluga, during the launch of a three-year project to reduce the burden of breast cancer by strengthening interventions across the entire continuum of care at Afya house Nairobi, February 25, 2026/MoH

Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Ouma Oluga and the Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH) officials, during the launch of a three-year project to reduce the burden of breast cancer by strengthening interventions across the entire continuum of care at Afya house Nairobi, on February 25, 2026/MoH