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Women and Health. Global Strength.
The Overlooked Opportunity in Global Health.
The Lancet Commission on Women, Power and Cancer, published in 2023, painted a striking picture of the disparities women face when dealing with cancer. At C/Can this this became a clear call to action.
The Evidence We Cannot Ignore.
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50%of the world’s population is female.
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<1%of global health spending addresses women’s needs beyond reproduction.
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2%of cancer research focuses on female cancers.
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72%of women in low human development index (HDI) countries die prematurely of cancer.
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1.5Mdeaths could be prevented through early detection and prevention.
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800,000more could be avoided with access to optimal care.
Women and Cancer is the Transformative Lever.
A Different Way Forward.
For too long, women’s health has been framed as a cost to contain, a niche, a social issue.
It’s time to reframe it.
At C/Can, we see women and health as a lever to unlock:
- Health equity
- Economic growth
- Resilient health systems
- Resilient communities and families
In 2024, C/Can formalised this vision through its Commitment to Action with the Clinton Global Initiative, a multi-year commitment in advancing gender-responsive cancer care systems in cities worldwide.
This reflects a simple truth: when we improve outcomes for women, we strengthen entire societies.
THE FUTURE OF EQUITABLE CANCER CARE IS ALREADY IN MOTION.
Meet the Women Leading Change.
Four voices. Four realities. One goal: better care for all.
Dr Miriam Mutebi is a breast surgical oncologist and health-systems researcher committed to strengthening cancer care across Africa. Her work spans clinical practice, survivorship, and women-centred health innovations, with a strong focus on equity, patient empowerment, and evidence-informed system design. She has served in major leadership roles, including President of the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC), where she championed policy development, workforce strengthening, research capacity building and regional collaboration. She believes that compassionate, inclusive cancer systems have the power to transform the lives of women, families, and communities.
Dr Nia Sharikadze is the Head of the Clinical Oncology Department at the Cancer Research Centre in Tbilisi, Georgia, and serves as an oncology expert for the Ministry of Health of Georgia. She is a Board Member of the Georgian Society of Clinical Oncology and the Georgian Cancer Study Group, and an Executive Committee Member of City Cancer Challenge (C/Can). As the former ESMO National Representative of Georgia, she organised the first ESMO Educational Course in the country.
A certified Breast Cancer Expert (ESO), she is a Principal Investigator in international clinical trials, a lecturer in the US MD Program at Tbilisi State Medical University, and co-author of national cancer guidelines, with more than 17 publications.
Carolina Goic Boroevic is a social worker and economist (MSc, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile). She is Professor in the Department of Hematology and Oncology at PUC’s Faculty of Medicine and Executive Director of CECAN, Chile’s Center for Cancer Prevention and Control. She also leads the Fundación Foro Nacional de Cáncer and founded Fundación Todas, promoting women’s political leadership.
A cancer survivor and former parliamentarian, she is the author of Chile’s National Cancer Law (2020), the country’s first participatory health law, developed with citizens and supported by innovative digital consultation tools. The law established a national framework for comprehensive, patient-centred cancer prevention, treatment, and care.
Gloria Orji is a cancer advocate based in Abuja, Nigeria, and the founder of the Network of People Impacted by Cancer, a support group for cancer patients. Diagnosed with breast cancer at ages 35 and again at 43, she transformed her personal journey into a platform for collective action. Through the network, she works to ensure patients have access to accurate information, peer support, and stronger representation. Gloria is committed to helping patients raise their voices and advocate with the government for improved access to treatment and care.
Be part of the movement. Shift the narrative.
Access the Women and Health campaign toolkit, with ready-to-use messaging and assets, and help create global momentum for gender-responsive cancer care.
Interested in joining forces with C/Can?
Contact Harold Cottin, Head of Partnership and Engagement, to know how you can support more women across the globe.
We thank our partners — Amgen, Global Focus on Cancer (with support from Eli Lilly and Company), MSD, Roche, and Siemens Healthineers — for making this work possible.
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