CANCER1: Reducing Delays in Cancer Care in Sub-Saharan Africa

This project aims to develop, implement, and evaluate two interventions to reduce delays in cancer care within the formal health sector. First, we will intervene in frontline primary care services to improve referral practice and communication with patients. Second, we will collaborate with the voluntary sector to provide peer navigation support, particularly for the most vulnerable patients.

We will study patients with symptom clusters for cancers: uterus, colon, breast, lung, stomach/oesophagus, bladder/prostate/kidney, and head/neck in Oyo and Kano states (Nigeria) and Nairobi County (Kenya).  Our findings will provide insight into how health service improvements across different health providers can be applied to other conditions apart from the cancer referral pathway.

Project period: November 2024 – April 2029 (54 months)

Funder: NIHR

Partners:

• University of Birmingham
• University of Ibadan
• Bayero University Kano
• Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital
• University of Warwick
• University of Exeter
• Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)
• Georgetown University
• National Cancer Institute of Kenya

Project team:

• Calistus Wilunda
• Gershim Asiki
• Hannah Simba
• Lyagamula Kisia
• Shukri Mohamed