Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women globally and the burden falls hardest on women in cities across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where late diagnosis, fragmented care systems, and limited resources turn a treatable disease into a death sentence.

Where you live and who you are shouldn’t determine the quality of care you receive. That is the conviction driving the World Health Organisation (WHO)–C/Can Global Breast Cancer Initiative (GBCI) partnership, and it’s what this event is about.

Since 2023, WHO and C/Can have been working city by city to change that reality. In Tbilisi, Kumasi, Cali, and Phnom Penh, the partnership has reached more than 80,000 women with breast cancer services, trained over 450 healthcare professionals, engaged 60 institutions, and developed four locally led Breast Cancer Action Plans. They are proof that local action, grounded in community realities and aligned with global standards, can transform cancer care systems.

This World Health Assembly side event marks a turning point. We are here to celebrate what Phase I has achieved, officially launch Phase II of the GBCI partnership, and mobilise the commitments needed to scale this model further: from cities to national health systems; from proof of concept to lasting change.

Phase II extends the reach of the initiative to new cities and, for the first time, to the national level, testing how locally proven solutions can drive system-wide transformation. The goal is clear: measurable improvements in timely diagnosis, treatment completion, and quality of life for women living with breast cancer, with the potential to reach millions more by 2030.

The blueprint exists. Now we scale it. Join us.