Womenʼs integrated cancer services: A blueprint for the future of womenʼs health in Africa

Cancer, particularly cervical and breast cancers continues to exact an unacceptable toll on women, families and health systems across the World Health Organization (WHO) African Region.This burden persists despite the availability of effective tools for prevention, early detection and treatment. Too many women are still diagnosed late, when survival is uncertain and the social and economic consequences are devastating. This reflects not a lack of knowledge, but persistent gaps in access, integration and continuity of care. 

The Womenʼs Integrated Cancer Services (WICS) initiative responds directly to this challenge. Anchored in primary health care (PHC), WICS offers a practical and scalable approach to delivering integrated cervical and breast cancer services alongside other essential health services. By bringing care closer to where women live and seek it, WICS advances equity, efficiency and people centred care—core principles of universal health coverage (UHC).