Announcing the expansion of UICC’s Patient Group Mentoring programme to Africa

UICC has a long-standing commitment to engaging and supporting individuals with lived cancer experience – patients, survivors, and caregivers – around the world. With a robust presence in the Eastern Mediterranean and Asia-Pacific regions, the Patient Group Mentoring programme now extends its tailored mentorship opportunities to Africa, addressing the specific needs of patient organisations in the region.

The programme aims to recognise and engage people with lived experience as essential partners in the cancer community and health systems at local, regional, and global levels. The programme enhances peer-to-peer support and collaboration, amplifies the voices of people with lived experience, and provides tailored assistance for capacity building opportunities. Additionally, it connects patient-focused organisations with key initiatives and stakeholders, enabling them to make a significant impact in their respective health systems.

Introducing the African Cohort

"Over the past year, my network within the global cancer community has grown exponentially. The nomination by UICC to attend the Uniting for Cervical Cancer meeting for survivors in August 2023 was a pivotal moment, leading to funding opportunities, international collaborations and several invitations to speak at regional and international conferences."
– Karen Nakwala, Teal Sisters, Zambia

Nest Of Hope Advocacy and Support Community (Nigeria)

Nest of Hope is committed to fostering multi-stakeholder collaborations to improve healthcare systems and reduce cancer mortality through education, awareness, lifestyle modification, advocacy, and social mobilization. They focus on survivorship care, advocacy for screening, and reducing stigma.

Warriors with a Purpose (South Africa)

Warriors with a Purpose aims to raise cancer awareness, offer education and support for individuals experiencing cancer, and help families navigate the diagnosis journey. They strive to make a positive impact through hope, love and support.

KILELE Health Association (Kenya)

KILELE Health focuses on nurturing resilience among individuals with chronic health conditions through physical resilience pursuits, mental wellness coaching, survivorship advocacy, and social entrepreneurship programmes. Their goal is to empower people with lived experience, enhancing well-being and promoting financial stability and community contribution.

Teal Sisters Foundation (Zambia)

Teal Sisters is dedicated to cervical cancer elimination and offering hope and support to those affected by cancer. They encourage women to undergo screening and provide a judgement-free space for discussions and sharing. Their mission is to raise awareness and support survivors.

Action against Cancer Association (Lesotho)

Action against Cancer Association works to combat cancer through prevention, awareness, and support initiatives for those affected by cancer.

UICC is proud to support these organisations through the African cohort, providing them an opportunity to enhance their capacity, connect with key initiatives, and amplify the voices of people with lived experience. This expansion reflects UICC’s commitment to ensuring that the lived experiences of those affected by cancer are integral to effective cancer prevention and control efforts.

Patient groups are at the heart of the UICC community, representing 40% of its global membership. The expansion marks a critical step in providing tailored support and fostering peer-to-peer engagement and collaboration for the Africa regional cohort, which will continue to grow next year. As a first step, the Africa cohort will join representatives from the Eastern Mediterranean and Asia-Pacific cohorts at the World Cancer Congress this September 2024 in Geneva, Switzerland and UICC’s workshop on meaningful engagement, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO).

"The Patient Group Mentoring programme empowers our organisation, Warriors with a Purpose, to reach more lives through long-term collaboration and increasing cancer awareness. With the support of the programme, we can provide essential resources and uplift underprivileged communities, ensuring no one faces cancer alone."
– Renée Singh (Ney), Warriors with a Purpose

UICC would like to thank its partners Amgen and MSD for their support of the Patient Group Mentoring programme, and expansion to the Africa region.