Roche Africa Press Day #TogetherForChange
Women in Africa are disproportionately affected by critical health issues such as HIV/AIDS, breast and cervical cancer, and maternal health challenges. Women are 50% of our communities but often get left out of key decisions about their health (1). This oversight underscores the importance and urgency of our upcoming Roche Africa Press Day, set to shine a spotlight on the critical sphere of women’s health. We will delve into the consequences of neglecting women's health issues, celebrate African innovations, and discuss ways to prioritize women's health in policies and practices. Join us in championing change, inclusivity, and innovation!
It's time for us to come together and rewrite the story of women's health in Africa.
Our ambition & commitment to Women's Health
Roche places a special emphasis on Women's Health, recognizing its pivotal role in enhancing the well-being of entire communities. By investing in women-centric healthcare initiatives, we aim to address the unique healthcare needs of women, achieve gender equity and enhance outcomes for women across the continent. This comprehensive approach underscores our responsibility to fortify health systems, ensuring everyone, regardless of their location, has access to the innovative diagnostics and treatments they deserve.
What’s on our agenda?
We want to see women at the center of healthcare decisions (5)
African women play a critical role in our societies. When fully empowered, they have the potential to transform communities, countries, and the global economy. Placing women at the center of healthcare decisions is essential for a healthier, more equitable and prosperous future (5)..
The hidden costs of failing to prioritise women's health The consequences of overlooking women's health needs are far-reaching, affecting not just the healthcare system but also economic stability and societal prosperity. Over a decade, targeted interventions in just three African countries could avert over 2.2 million premature deaths and yield over 31 billion US dollars in economic savings(6). Thus, ensuring access to quality health services for women is a critical investment in our collective future.
New innovations & approaches to an old problem: Integrating screening, testing & treatment for women in Africa Cervical cancer, primarily caused by certain strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), poses a significant public health threat to women across Africa—with 19 of the 20 countries with the highest burden in 2018 located on the continent (7).. However, new innovations and approaches are beginning to turn the tide, with Southern Africa leading the way and embracing cutting-edge methods to prevent, diagnose, and treat cervical cancer, offering hope for a brighter future.
Together for change: Presenting case studies of collaborations and change makers.
Strengthening Primary HealthCare to Achieve UHC: Investing in Prevention and Early Detection in Women's Health
By channeling resources into prevention and early detection, we can significantly alter the health outcomes for women across various stages of life. Strengthening primary health care allows us to identify and address potential health issues early, reducing costs and improving quality of care. Encouraging regular screenings, vaccinations, and health education empowers women to play an active role in maintaining their health.
Africa Genomics Project Presentation- today and tomorrow
Africa hosts the majority of human genetic diversity, the clues to human origins, yet there is a dramatic imbalance in global genomic data (8). Only about 3% of genomic data is from people of African decent (9). This massive disparity in genomic data hinders our ability to fully unlock the potential to advance scientific and medical progress–both in Africa and beyond. Roche is undertaking an effort to catalyse the development of an open, equitable federation of large-scale clinical, genomics and outcomes biobanks hosted in Africa that are African-led, revolutionizing how data is collected and shared at scale, enabling scientific discovery and improving health.
How can I join?
Doing now what patients need next
REF: 1. WHO Regional Office for Africa. (n.d.). Addressing the Challenge of Women’s Health in Africa. Retrieved from https://www.afro.who.int/sites/default/files/2017-06/report-of-the-commission-on-womens-health-in-the-african-region---full-who_acreport-comp%20(1).pdf. Accessed on October 10, 2024. 2.World Economic Forum. (2024). This new coalition aims to address Africa's cancer burden among women and girls. Retrieved from https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2024/05/this-new-coalition-aims-to-address-africa-s-cancer-burden-among-women-and-girls/. Accessed on October 10, 2024. 3. WHO Regional Office for Africa. (n.d.). Integrating female cancer screening into primary health care in Niger. Retrieved from https://www.afro.who.int/countries/niger/news/integrating-female-cancer-screening-primary-health-care-niger. Accessed on October 10, 2024. 4. WHO Regional Office for Africa. (n.d.). Three African countries pilot initiative to boost cervical and breast cancer care. Retrieved from https://www.afro.who.int/countries/cote-divoire/news/three-african-countries-pilot-initiative-boost-cervical-and-breast-cancer-care. Accessed on October 10, 2024. 5. McKinsey Health Institute. (n.d.). Closing the women’s health gap: A $1 trillion opportunity to improve lives and economies. Retrieved from https://www.mckinsey.com/mhi/our-insights/closing-the-womens-health-gap-a-1-trillion-dollar-opportunity-to-improve-lives-and-economies. Accessed on October 10, 2024. 6. Roche. (n.d.). Roche modelling based on The Lancet Commission publications. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8444235/. Accessed on October 10, 2024. 7. WHO Regional Office for Africa. (n.d.). Cervical cancer. Retrieved from https://www.afro.who.int/health-topics/cervical-cancer. Accessed on October 10, 2024. 8.Denny, L., Anorlu, R., & Sankaranarayanan, R. (2011). Women’s cancers in Africa: An urgent need for action. Current Biology, 21(15), 563-564. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982211007202. Accessed on October 10, 2024. 9. IARC Working Group. (2022). Comprehensive review on women’s cancers in Africa. The Lancet Oncology, 23(11), e507-e518. Retrieved from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9733397/. Accessed on October 10, 2024.
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