ACE Meeting. May 21, 2026. 1:00 pm ET. An introduction on who KENCO is, why KENCO was formed, a description of the model and it’s unique strengths, how it works, challenges, achievements and impact, and lessons for other countries.
Prisca Githuka is a triple-positive breast cancer survivor and a passionate advocate for cancer awareness, survivorship and health system reform. Her personal cancer journey has profoundly shaped her life and positioned her as a leading voice in advancing awareness of breast and gynaecological cancers in Kenya and globally. She is the Founder of Pink Hearts Cancer Support Foundation, where she has led extensive public education on cancer risk factors, prevention and survivorship. Through the foundation, Prisca has mobilized practical support for cancer survivors, including sanitary towels, adult diapers, wigs, compression sleeves, mastectomy bras and over 1,000 breast prostheses significantly improving the quality of life for individuals affected by cancer. Motivated by her lived experience, Prisca champions health policies that address the realities faced by people living with cancer and other non-communicable diseases. She serves as Chairlady of the Cancer Survivors Association of Kenya and as Board Vice-Chair of the Kenyan Network of Cancer Organizations (KENCO). At KENCO, she chairs the advocacy, education and research committee, advancing evidence-based advocacy to ensure survivor voices are meaningfully integrated into health policy and decision-making processes. Prisca contributes to national cancer and health policy reform through her participation in Ministry of Health technical working groups on prevention, early detection, cancer screening; and survivorship. She is also a member of the leadership committee of the Africa Cancer Survivorship Working Group, the Caucus of Patients Living with NCDs in Kenya, and Global Week of Action. Prisca also serves as a member of the Institutional Scientific and Ethics Review Committee ( ISER )of the National Cancer Institute of Kenya. Globally, Prisca serves on the Global Advisory Committee for “Our Views, Our Voices,” an initiative of the NCD Alliance. She is a member of the Patient Advocate Working Group of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), the LMICs Working Group of the Global Patient Navigation Program—an initiative of the American Cancer Society and the Task Force on Women and NCDs at the George Institute for Global Health. She is also a member of Advocates for Collaborative Education. Prisca actively participates in World Health Organization symposia focused on meaningful engagement of people with lived experience, strengthening her advocacy for patient-centred cancer care. She has represented cancer survivors at numerous national and international forums, including the NCD Global Forum, where she spoke during the official press conference as a representative of people with lived experience. She has also spoken at high-level women’s health advocacy forums in the Middle East and Africa region, Kenya’s inaugural cancer summit, AORTIC conferences in Senegal and Tunisia and the World Cancer Congress in 2024. Her advocacy and research contributions include work on cancer survivorship, access to NCD medicines and the development of a white paper on Kenya’s path toward universal health coverage and gender. Notably, she has spearheaded campaigns to improve access to Herceptin in public health facilities and to strengthen the oncology package within the national social health insurance framework. Academically, Prisca holds an MBA from the University of Nairobi, alongside professional certifications in Marketing and Project Management. She is also a trained cancer advocate and a fellow of the UICC Cancer Advocates Program and the Campaigning for Cancer Patient Advocates Incubator Program. Through lived experience, leadership and evidence-driven advocacy, Prisca continues to influence cancer policy, elevate survivorship and improve the lives of people affected by cancer in Kenya and beyond.
