November 20–21, 2024, Cali, Colombia – In a significant step toward women’s health and cancer care, City Cancer Challenge (C/Can), in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), has hosted the Global Breast Cancer Initiative (GBCI) Implementation Planning Workshop in Cali on Wednesday, November 20, and Thursday, November 21. This event united local and international experts, advocates, and policymakers with a shared goal: supporting communities through enhanced breast cancer care.
Cali, the first C/Can city in Latin America, working with implementation partner ProPacífico, leads this initiative to develop a Breast Cancer Action Plan (BCAP) tailored to meet the unique needs of Cali residents. Global allies and experts explored innovative approaches to optimise breast cancer care pathways, aiming to create models that not only benefit women in Cali but also serve as references for similar efforts across Colombia and the region.
Building on Strengths for a Healthier Future
Since joining C/Can in 2017, Cali has become a hub of innovative, context-specific cancer care interventions, supported by specialised healthcare providers, local organisations, and community advocates. This workshop builds on these efforts, focusing on solutions to address breast cancer challenges within the realities and resources of the local context. Through a collaborative approach, Cali’s leaders aim to improve access to quality cancer care for all, especially for those facing barriers to timely treatment.
It is an honour to welcome global experts from PAHO/WHO, IAEA, IARC, and other distinguished institutions to Cali. They will work alongside local stakeholders to adapt the framework of the Global Breast Cancer Initiative (GBCI) to our context. This collaboration is a crucial step toward reducing breast cancer mortality through evidence-based and locally adapted approaches. Additionally, it lays the foundation for a long-term impact plan requiring collective city commitment, support from decision-makers, alignment with policymakers, and a unified vision to implement lasting actions,
said Dr. María Fernanda Navarro, Regional Director for Latin America at C/Can.
Workshop Highlights
Over two days, participants reflected on the latest data, share insights, and define actionable steps to strengthen every phase of breast cancer care. From early detection to treatment completion, discussions will focus on areas requiring immediate attention, exploring ways to close resource gaps, optimise services, and build on Cali’s strengths.
This event represents a unique opportunity, bringing together key stakeholders from public health, research, and policy sectors to work together to improve breast cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment in our city and region. Breast cancer is a priority on the global health agenda, and Cali must not be left behind. This platform is a key step toward an intervention model that can be replicated nationally. From Cali, we are working collaboratively to contribute to the fight against cancer,
stated María Isabel Ulloa, Executive Director of ProPacífico.
Closing Event: From Vision to Action – A Path to the Future of Breast Cancer Care
The workshop concluded with a closing reception celebrating Cali’s commitment to quality breast cancer care. During this gathering, representatives from the nine cancer control organisations that signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2022 will reaffirm their dedication to sustained progress and collaboration. The event will highlight the collective determination to ensure that every advancement in cancer care makes a meaningful difference for families, communities, and the city itself.
Through this workshop and with support from C/Can, ProPacífico, and PAHO/WHO, Cali continues to serve as an example of what can be achieved when communities and health leaders join forces to improve lives, not only locally but across Latin America.
The Global Breast Cancer Initiative Framework provides a structure for evidence-based improvements in early detection, timely diagnosis, and comprehensive treatment of breast cancer. The workshop in Cali allows us to learn from local providers and policymakers how to prioritise health system changes to save lives and build a platform supporting care for all cancer types in Cali and Colombia,
said Dr. Benjamin O. Anderson, Global Technical Lead for C/Can.
This was the third workshop held as part of the collaboration between C/Can and PAHO/WHO to implement the Global Breast Cancer Initiative (GBCI), launched in May 2023. The GBCI framework implementation workshops have been made possible through strong public-private partnerships. C/Can acknowledges the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA) for their critical convening role. We extend our thanks to our private sector partners — Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS), and MSD —who provided essential funding. Their support enables C/Can to operate the GBCI partnership, aimed at assisting cities and countries in implementing the WHO’s GBCI Framework to improve breast cancer outcomes around the world.
