Tuesday, October 21, 2025
The World Economic Forum’s Global Alliance for Women’s Health has announced a widespread philanthropic collaboration with leading healthcare companies Siemens Healthineers, Xenco Medical, and AstraZeneca. This powerful coalition, named the Afya Dada Project, Swahili for “Health for Sisters”, is set to fill the urgent vacuum of aid, specifically targeting cervical cancer prevention and treatment in Africa, starting with Kenya.
Cervical cancer remains a leading cause of death among women in Kenya, tragically claiming the lives of nine women each day. Despite the existence of effective prevention strategies such as HPV vaccination and regular screening, Kenya struggles with low vaccination coverage and inadequate screening rates. The need for international aid to maintain and expand these life-saving interventions has never been greater.
Historically, Kenya’s cervical cancer initiatives have been significantly bolstered by U.S. support, primarily through USAID, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These agencies facilitated nationwide HPV vaccination drives, extensive screening programs, and treatment of precancerous conditions. However, the abrupt termination of these funding streams has resulted in severe disruptions. Kenya faces an alarming budget shortfall estimated at $400 million USD for 2024-2025, severely impacting healthcare services and placing tens of thousands of healthcare worker positions at risk.
This funding shortfall has been catastrophic, leaving an immediate gap of at least $3.3 million annually for cervical cancer screening alone. Experts warn that without rapid intervention, hundreds of thousands of Kenyan girls and women could go unvaccinated and unscreened, reversing hard-won progress in cancer prevention and treatment.
A New Coalition Emerges
Recognizing this dire situation, the World Economic Forum’s Global Alliance for Women’s Health has convened a taskforce consisting of prominent global health leaders and private sector innovators. The Afya Dada Project exemplifies a new model of partnership, blending public health expertise, government oversight, and private sector innovation, to tackle the multifaceted challenges posed by cervical cancer. The coalition’s primary goal is to transform lives by strengthening Kenya’s health systems, specifically by enhancing early detection and care for cervical cancer through innovative medical technologies and sustainable infrastructure improvements.
Bridging the Funding Gap
The Afya Dada coalition is stepping in at this critical juncture, offering not only the necessary financial resources but also technical expertise, infrastructure upgrades, and advanced medical technologies essential for sustainable healthcare improvements.
Strategic Implementation for Lasting Impact
The Afya Dada Project is targeting pilot counties within Kenya, selected based on specific criteria including high cervical cancer incidence rates and existing health infrastructure gaps. This targeted approach ensures that interventions are not only impactful but also measurable and scalable.
A meticulously planned one-year implementation timeline outlines clear milestones, from training healthcare professionals to the deployment of diagnostic and treatment technologies. Continuous monitoring and evaluation are integral components of the project, employing a rigorous logical framework to assess progress, identify challenges, and demonstrate measurable improvements in healthcare outcomes.
Community-Centered Approach
Community engagement and empowerment are core principles guiding the Afya Dada Project. The initiative will include community education programs to raise awareness about cervical cancer prevention and the importance of regular screenings, significantly amplifying the impact of the medical interventions being implemented.This coalition arrives at a pivotal moment, directly addressing the vacuum left by U.S. funding cuts. With the Kenyan health system heavily reliant on previous U.S.-funded initiatives, the withdrawal of USAID support threatened to unravel substantial gains made in cervical cancer control over the past decade. However, the new philanthropic funding from World Economic Forum, Siemens Healthineers, Xenco Medical, and AstraZeneca signals a promising new chapter in Kenya’s fight against cervical cancer.
By integrating these advanced medical solutions with Kenya’s existing health structures, the Afya Dada Project aims not only to compensate for the immediate shortfall in funding but also to set a robust, resilient foundation for future healthcare sustainability. The partnership symbolizes a shift toward more diversified funding streams and sustainable healthcare delivery models, moving away from dependency on single-source international aid.
Looking Forward: A Model for Africa
Beyond Kenya, the coalition’s success has the potential to serve as a blueprint for addressing cervical cancer across the African continent. The unique partnership harnesses global health leadership, governmental cooperation, and innovative private-sector solutions to tackle public health crises effectively and sustainably.
In the face of adversity brought about by significant international aid reductions, the Afya Dada Project exemplifies resilience and innovation. Through the combined efforts of the World Economic Forum’s Global Alliance for Women’s Health, Siemens Healthineers, Xenco Medical, and AstraZeneca, Kenya is not only sustaining vital health services but also spearheading a unique philanthropic model that could benefit countless lives across Africa, marking a significant step toward the eventual elimination of cervical cancer on the continent.
