Colon Cancer
2021-06-15 19:00 - 20:30 (Africa/Nairobi) | Virtual Event (Zoom), Kenya
Moderator: Dr. Angela McLigeyo, Physician and medical Oncologist, JOOTRH, Kenya
Sponsor: Beacon
Presenters:

Dr. Caroline Tonio, Consultant Physician and Medical Oncologist, Muranga County Hospital, Kenya.
Dr. Abdi Hakin Mohamed, Surgical Oncologist, and Consultant Laparoscopic Surgeon, Mombasa.

The incidence of colorectal cancer in Africa is increasing. In Kenya, it ranks position 5, with the majority of patients being young (age group 41-50 years). The disease is most common in the rectum, with a proximal anatomical distribution. The 5-year survival rate for localized cancer is 90% while for distant disease, it’s almost 15%. Kenya has a relatively lower incidence of colorectal cancer compared to western countries with the incidence being higher in men. The major risk factors include environmental, diet, familial syndromes, and inflammatory bile diseases. Mortality is associated with the male gender, presence of comorbidity, recurrence, disease stage, and receipt of chemotherapy. 8-29% of patients with colorectal cancer present with an emergency obstruction of the bowel at the time of diagnosis. Acute obstruction is associated with high morbidity and mortality. High-risk patients require regular screening. Due to late presentation, and lack of screening capacity, it’s difficult to detect early lesions. Consequently, most patients end up with abdominoperineal resection with a poor prognosis. Treatment recommendation for invasive colon cancer is dependent on the pathological stage of the disease and is mainly guided by specific Biomarkers. Curative intent surgery depends on the location of the tumor and involves removing the tumor-containing a segment of the bowel with adequate margins, by en bloc excision of the mesentery containing the feeding vessels and regional lymph nodes. Removal of as many lymph nodes as possible increases the patient’s survival. Complete mesocolic excision and 3D lymphadenectomy are associated with higher complication rates, but no differences in post-operational mortality. They have positive effects on 5 years of overall survival and three years of disease-free survival. Additionally, they are associated with decreased local and distant recurrences. Surveillance for stage I disease requires colonoscopy 1 year after surgery, while stage II and III of the disease require more than just colonoscopy. Stage IV is generally incurable except in a small subset of patients with oligometastases, where curative intent may be considered. Primary tumor sidedness has prognostic and predictive significance, where right-sided tumors seem to be associated with inferior outcomes. Such tumors are associated with age and methylation phenotypes. Surgery in rectal cancer is very complicated because oncologists have to determine the probability of maintaining or restoring bowel functions versus anal continence and preserving genitourinary functions. Consideration is made as to whether the intention is curative or palliative. The risk of pelvic recurrence is higher in patients with rectal cancer compared to those with colon cancer, where locally recurrent rectal cancer is associated with a poor prognosis. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS), involves multimodal perioperative pathways, which have successfully reduced in-hospital stay, medical complications, and costs. Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure with better postoperative outcomes including reduced rates of surgical site infections, incisional hernias, and small bowel obstructions than ERAS. The ultimate goal of oncological surgery is an in toto resection of the primary tumor together with its entire lymphatic drainage territory to achieve low locoregional recurrence rates with long overall and disease-free survival rates. Adjuvant treatment declines with age. Currently, neoadjuvant therapy is under consideration with very promising results. Although there is the availability of molecular testing, high cost remains a major barrier for the patients to access the services.

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Cytoreductive Surgery (CRS) And Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Perfusion (HIPEC)
2021-06-22 19:00 - 20:30 | Virtual Event (Zoom), Kenya
Moderator: Dr. Mohammed Ezzi
Sponsor: RAND
Presenters:

Prof Ignace De Hingh, MD, PhD, Catharina Cancer Institute, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
Umberto Carletti, Clinical perfusionist, Product Manager, RAND
Dr. Abdi Hakin Mohammed, Surgical Oncologist, and Consultant Laparoscopic Surgeon, Mombasa.

Peritoneal metastases (PM) affect hundreds of thousands of patients a year globally. The patients have a very poor prognosis, without adequate treatment. PM is not a systemic but a regional disease, initially regarded as untreatable, resistant to systemic chemotherapy, and refractory to surgery. Accumulating evidence suggests that PM can be treated by radical regional combination therapy. Cytoreductive Surgery (CRS) and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal perfusion (HIPEC) is associated with significantly improved recurrence-free and overall survival in ovarian and Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP low-grade rare clinical condition) patients, without increasing toxicity. CRS-HIPEC program can be safely implemented in high-volume dedicated centers, though currently, there is an unmet need for this technology since there is no center in Kenya offering the services. Rand Company in Italy is producing systems for HIPEC, which ideally should be effective, easy to use with automatic functions, traceable, safe, controlled, and supported by clinical experts. The cost of installing the machine is on average 3.4-4 million Kenya shillings and is cost-effective since each procedure requires one kit. The machine is easy to use and any nurse can use the machine without perfusion skills. The company offers training to individuals using the machine in their respective countries.

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Role of New Therapies in the Management of ITP and Other Haematological Disorders
2021-06-24 19:00 - 20:30 | Virtual Event (Zoom), Kenya
Moderator: Dr. Fatmah Abdallah, Haematologist and pediatric Oncologist
Sponsor: Beacon
Presenters:

Prof. Malkit Riyat, Associate professor of hematology and Consultant hematologist, Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an acquired autoimmune hemorrhagic disorder characterized by low platelet count. This may be as a result of platelet destruction or impaired platelet production. A platelet count in peripheral blood less than or equal to 100×10^9/L is the most important criterion for the diagnosis of ITP. It has an incidence of 2to 5 per 100,000 persons and may be either primary or secondary. Pathogenetic mechanisms of ITP involve platelet autoantibodies, T lymphocytes, and impaired thrombopoiesis. Clinical presentation is the increased bleeding tendency, petechiae, and mucosal hemorrhages. Additional symptoms include exhaustion and fatigue, depressive disorders, anxiety, increased risk of infection, and iron deficiency anemia. Predictors of bleeding include severe thrombocytopenia, chronic ITP, history of major bleeding, older age (>60 years), patients on anticoagulants or antiplatelet agents. The goal of treatment is to achieve adequate hemostasis and not to achieve a normal platelet count. Initiation of treatment should put into consideration the age of the patient, upcoming surgery, comorbidities associated with the risk of bleeding, antiplatelet medications or anticoagulation, distance from the hospital and ability to follow up, and additional symptoms such as fatigue. Platelet count is the most important measure of disease activity and is inversely correlated with morbidity from bleeding. Management of newly diagnosed ITP maybe by observation for individuals with a platelet count greater than or equal to 30×10^9/L and asymptomatic or minor mucocutaneous bleeding or by use of corticosteroids for individuals with a platelet count less than 30×10^9/L and asymptomatic or minor mucocutaneous bleeding. This is dependent on factors that impact the risk of bleeding, including the degree of thrombocytopenia, patient comorbidities, medications, and age. Other factors to consider include the disease duration, access to care, quality of life implications, patient and provider preferences. Conventional first-line therapy includes corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, and watch-and-wait. Second-line treatments include immunosuppressive therapy and splenectomy.

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Cancer And COVID 19
2021-07-01 19:00 - 20:00 | Virtual Event (Zoom), Kenya
Moderator: Dr. Mohammed Ezzi
Sponsor: AstraZeneca, a global, science-led, patient-focused biopharmaceutical company
Presenters:

Dr. Mary Nyangasi, Head of Division, National Cancer Control Program, Ministry of Health, Kenya
Dr. Catherine Nyongesa, Clinical Oncologist, Texas Cancer Center, Nairobi and Kenyatta National Hospital.

Cancer is a major cause of morbidity/mortality, where 70% of all cancer mortality occurs in low and middle-income countries. COVID origin remains unknown, although the first case was reported in Wuhan, China in 2019, and the official name was declared in Feb 2020. The pandemic has greatly affected cancer patients, their families, and caregivers. Common symptoms of COVID 19 include fever, chills, cough, and shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing, fatigue, and body aches. Control measures include cleaning of frequently used surfaces, use of detergent or soaps and water, disinfection, maintaining social distance, and wearing masks in public places. If quarantined, stay home and monitor your health, check if you have symptoms, stay away from others, especially those at a high risk of COVID infection. There is no specific report of increased incidence of COVID-19 asymptomatic infections in cancer patients, although data from China, the USA, and Italy confirms a higher risk. Cancer cases are grouped into high-priority cases which are life-threatening conditions, clinically unstable, and require intervention. The medium-priority cases are non-critical but delayed intervention could impact the overall outcome. The low-priority cases have a stable condition; hence services can be delayed for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic or is non-priority. COVID has drastically impacted the screening and diagnosis, treatment, palliative care, and follow-up of cancer patients. Additionally, adjustments have been made for logistics and supplies of cancer drugs and other essential commodities. To counter the effects of COVID on cancer patients, the ministry of health listed cancer as an essential service and recommended that cancer centers remain open and encouraged telemedicine and alternative treatment. Additionally, personal protective equipment and medicines were distributed to the regional cancer centers by use of courier services. Socioeconomic support for vulnerable cancer patients were provided through the Ministry of Labor and Social Services. The current policy guideline is for cancer programs to continue offering services following strict COVID-19 preventive measures, and for the cancer patients to observe all the control measures. In addition, doctors should consider scheduling treatment to avoid delays and rescheduling, minimize outpatient visits, and reduce hospital visits for patients on oral treatment by offering at least 3 courses. Patients can have some tests done near home, and then call the doctor to give a report. Follow-up visits can also be delayed or the patients can visit the nearest hospitals. Also, there is a need for increased surveillance while treating lung cancer patients and the elderly as they may have symptoms similar to those in COVID 19 patients. The caregivers and patients in cancer centers should be screened and positive cases should be referred to the relevant caregivers. Multidisciplinary tumor boards (MDTs) are encouraged in decision-making as they can discuss the benefits and risks of present therapies. Non-life threatening conditions may explore the possibilities of watchful waiting. Additionally, oral therapies may be alternatives to chemotherapies. Adjuvant therapies are highly recommended for patients with resected high-risk diseases who are set to benefit from treatment. Late presentation is a major challenge in cancer management in the country. Vaccination of cancer patients is generally safe, but the timing of vaccination depends on the treatment that the patient is receiving.

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The Unmet Need In Previously Untreated Stage IV CD30+ Hodgkin's Lymphoma
2021-07-06 19:00 - 20:30 | Virtual Event (Zoom), Kenya
Moderator: Peter Oyiro, Medical Oncologist Kenyatta National Hospital Teaching and Referral Hospital
Sponsor: Takeda, a pharmaceutical company with a patient assistance program for Hodgkin’s lymphoma in Kenya.
Presenters:

Prof. N.A.O.Abinya, Medical Oncologist, the Nairobi Hospital Cancer Centre.
Prof. John Radford, Professor of medical oncology, University of Manchester, Director of Research at the Christie NHS Foundation Trust. Both partners in the Manchester Cancer Research Centre.

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is a germinal center B cell lymphocytic lymphoma with Reed-Sternberg cells and their variants. It is less frequent than non- Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and constitutes 10% of all lymphomas. It is more prevalent in black males all over the world. It has a single peak age of occurrence at 17 years and a bimodal incidence with a peak age between 15-30 years and 50-70 years. It is more frequent in cases with mixed cellular histology, males, children, and older adults and is more prevalent in developing countries. Although the etiology is unknown, immune depression, infectious agents, and environmental factors are associated with the disease. Up to 40% of HL cases are associated with infection with Epstein-Barr-Virus (EBV), an oncovirus whose oncogenes generate a particular phenotype of the Hodgkin Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells. HRS attracts a supportive microenvironment of immune and stromal cells, suppressing local immune responsiveness. Furthermore, EBV induces epigenetic changes in the host genome, in addition to altering the composition and activity of the immune cells surrounding the HRS cells. The mechanisms of tumorigenesis involve dysregulation of several signaling networks and transcription factors including NFkB, possibly by CD30 receptor signaling, leading to genomic alterations affecting RS cell survival and immune evasion. Although there are no genetic defects to malignant HRS cells, a number of molecular defects have been demonstrated. HL presentation involves a single peripheral lymph node with a centrifugal distribution and a continuous spread. Splenomegaly occurs in 50% of cases during the course of the disease. HL staging is by history, physical examination, blood hematology and chemistry, bone marrow aspirate, and biopsy and imaging. About 95% of early HL is treated while for advanced disease, 70% of the cases are cured. Radiotherapy is now obsolete while chemotherapy is the common mode of treatment. Antibody therapies, immunotherapies, and immune checkpoint inhibitors mainly targeting programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) are available. However, when used on their own, they hardly induce a complete response; instead, they convert HL into a chronic disease. Newer combinations of drugs are in use. Unlike in NHL, CAR-T cells do not work in HL, due to the absence of the target, CD19. Brentuximab vedotin is an antibody-drug conjugate targeting CD30 and is effective as a single agent in relapsed/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma. Although EBV is associated with so many cancers, there is no vaccine targeting this oncogene. The cost of treatment is a major challenge to many patients in developing countries. Quality of cure is also a major concern in developing as well as developed countries.

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Head and Neck Cancer
2021-07-08 19:00 - 20:30 | Virtual Event (Zoom), Kenya
Moderator: Dr. Primus Ochieng, Programme Director of MMed Radiation Oncology training at the University of Nairobi. He is both a Lecturer and a Consultant Clinical Oncologist at Kenyatta National Hospital
Sponsor: Merck
Presenters:

Dr. Njoki Njiraini, Consultant Clinical Oncologist at The Nairobi Hospital
Dr. Chege Macharia, Head and Neck Surgeon at AIC Kijabe Hospital

Head and neck cancers encompass a variety of cancers. The risk factors for their oncogenesis include lifestyle, environmental factors, age (over 45 years), and gender (which affects more males than females). To reduce the risk, health education should focus on proper feeding habits, human papillomavirus vaccination, use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) at places of work, use of sunscreen by the population at risk, and good oral hygiene, in addition to annual dental check-ups. Local clinical examination of the tumor size is necessary. Tissue biopsy and imaging are necessary for correct staging and to select patients who would benefit from chemotherapy. Consequently, the choice of therapy should consider patient and disease factors and the functional outcomes. Clinical examination can give a lot of information about the patient. Proper management of head and neck (H and C) tumors is hindered by late-stage patient presentation, socioeconomic challenges, and resource strain on health care infrastructure. To overcome these challenges, multidisciplinary teams (MDT) and contextualized national management guidelines have been established to help in the management of H and C cancers. Dentists are an important part of the MDT as they help in diagnosis and patients follow-up after treatment, to check on their dental health. Surgery for H and C cancers should preserve organs. Although reconstruction surgery is necessary, it is more common in the west, but not available in our African setup due to scarcity of resources. Patients who develop mucositis after radiation must be well managed since they have challenges with feeding and drinking, hence are likely to become dehydrated and malnourished. The future of H and C management will involve training and fellowship programs and homegrown solutions. Merck is offering cetuximab (Erbitux), a monoclonal antibody that targets the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and is active in a variety of EGFR-expressing tumors.

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Endometrial Cancer
2021-07-15 19:00 - 20:30 | Virtual Event (Zoom), Kenya
Moderator: Dr. Gregory Ganda, Gynaecology oncologist Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH Sponsor: AMRING Presenters:

Dr. Khadija Warfa, Gynecologic oncologist, Aga Khan University Hospital
Dr. Ahmed Komen, Clinical and Radiation Oncologist, Kenyatta National Hospital/AKUH.

To date, many cancers are affecting the uterus. Endometrial cancers (EC) affect the endometrial lining of the uterus and are more common in North America and parts of Russia and China. They are less common in sub-Saharan Africa, and mostly affect postmenopausal women with an average age of 64 years. Obesity is a major risk factor for EC oncogenesis. Hereditary risk factors for EC pathogenesis include Lynch and Cowden syndromes. Proper diet and regular exercise, use of hormonal contraception, multiple childbirths, and breastfeeding decrease the risk of EC. Clinical presentation of EC is mainly abnormal/postmenopausal bleeding, while advanced disease presents with pelvic and abdominal symptoms resembling ovarian cancer. Diagnosis is by office pipelle biopsy and hysteroscopy biopsy. Women with ET >4-5mm on transvaginal ultrasound and also post-menopausal women with endometrial fluid >11mm and are asymptomatic should get a biopsy. The gold standard for imaging is MRI. The primary treatment for uterine-confined endometrial carcinoma is TH/BSO and lymph node assessment, where sentinel node assessment has been shown to reduce complications related to complete lymphadenectomy. Molecular classification of EC is encouraged in all endometrial carcinomas, especially in high-grade tumors. In molecular dualistic classification, type I tumors are estrogen-dependent, and associated with endometrial hyperplasia, while Type II tumors are estrogen-independent and associated with endometrial atrophy with a poorer prognosis. The WHO histologic classification involves endometrial epithelial tumors and serous endometrial cancer. Clear cell carcinoma accounts for <10% of endometrial adenocarcinoma. They demonstrate molecular heterogeneity and can overlap with serous and endometrial carcinoma. Carcinosarcoma represents 5% of EC. The benefit of molecular classification is that the method is based on more objective variables and it identifies significantly more patients with favorable features that would otherwise be classified as a high intermediate risk with pathology review alone. Unlike other cancers, FIGO staging does not determine the patient outcome, because some of the prognostic characteristics of the disease have not been incorporated in the staging. Early presentation following post-menopausal bleeding results in a generally good prognosis but should be treated using an evidence-based protocol. Considerations for adjuvant treatment include the extent of surgery, adequacy of the pathology report, risk stratification, and molecular classification. Lymphadenectomy should be considered for high intermediate-risk patients for adequate staging and optimal tailoring of adjuvant treatment. Radiotherapy can be used for definitive treatment on patients not candidates for surgery, patients with recurrent disease, and also for palliation. In a rural setup where resources are constrained, an ultrasound can be done, followed by a referral to a facility with the necessary resources and personnel.

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Practical Aspects of Immunotherapy... is Kenya Ready?
2021-07-22 19:00 - 20:30 | Virtual Event (Zoom), Kenya
Moderator: Dr. Amina K Habib, Medical oncologist, Aga Khan University Hospital, Mombasa
Sponsor: Beacon
Presenters:

Dr. Andrew Odhiambo, Consultant Physician, and Medical Oncologist, Head, Thematic Unit of Medical oncology & Lecturer, University of Nairobi.

Immunotherapy is a form of cancer treatment that uses the power of the body’s own immune system to prevent, control, and eliminate cancer. William Coley is known as the “father of immunotherapy”, where he successfully used Coley’s toxin to treat cancer patients. Immune checkpoint inhibitors are the most common immunotherapies, including PD1/PDL1 and CTLA4. The demand for immunotherapy treatment is increasing and the expertise in Kenya is growing. This treatment has a minimum toxicity profile, where the colitis associated with immunotherapy is immune-mediated and not an infection. The high cost of treatment is a major challenge to the use of immunotherapy since the patients bear the cost of the drugs, hence the need for the Kenyan government to work with the manufacturers to bring the prices down. Additionally, the treatment is not available in public hospitals in Kenya, and there is a need to lobby for their availability in public referral hospitals. There are few clinical trials in oncology in Kenya. Oncologists need to do more research to generate data and to publish the outcomes, in addition to building capacity for clinical trials in Kenya. Aga Khan is undertaking a clinical trial that is studying biomarkers that can predict response to immunotherapies. This will guide the choice of patients who would benefit from immunotherapy treatment. Before using immunotherapy as the first line of treatment for non-small cell lung cancer, one has to check the presence of mutations that may give inferior benefits to the patients. Immunotherapy and chemotherapy combinations have no effects on neutropenia. Generic immunotherapy and biosimilars are also effective in the treatment of various forms of cancers. Chimeric Antigen Receptor engineered T cells (CAR T cells) are a form of immunotherapy used to treat aggressive relapsed and relapsed non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Unfortunately, they are very expensive.

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Lung Cancer Management
2021-07-29 19:00 - 20:30 | Virtual Event (Zoom), Kenya
Moderator: Dr. Kevin Makori, Consultant Clinical Oncologist Oasis Specialist Hospital Kisii, Kenya & Lecturer, Maseno University/ JOOTRH
Sponsor: Beacon
Presenters:

Prof. Fredrick Chite Aswira, Consultant Physician, Chief Medical Oncologist & Hematologist, Executive Director of International Cancer Institute (ICI)

Lung cancer is a common cancer globally according to globocan, 2020). However, there is no cancer registry in Kenya, hence the statistics given are approximations. The risk factors include increasing age, history of or current tobacco use, exposure to cancer-causing substances in secondhand smoke, occupational exposure, radiation exposure, air pollution, family history, infection with human immunodeficiency virus, and beta carotene supplements in heavy smokers. There is a need for a high index of suspicion of lung cancer among the caregivers, being the first point of contact, as previous findings have revealed that most patients make several hospital visits before diagnosis. Consequently, most patients are diagnosed at an advanced disease stage and have poor overall survival. The majority of the patients are aged between 60-80 years. Education and training are needed to improve diagnostics in lung cancer in Kenya. Bio-banking of tissues will improve research, to generate knowledge mutations and signaling pathways that may be useful to define mechanisms of drug sensitivity and potential molecular targets. Efforts are geared towards characterizing, optimally treating, and measuring outcomes of lung cancer in Kenya. Limited awareness in the community and among health care providers is a major barrier to lung cancer management. An innovative lung cancer community outreach program targeting high-risk groups including tuberculosis patients was initiated in Kenya. A total of 412 clients were screened for lung cancer where 79 individuals were found to have lung cancer. Lung cancers are heterogenous diseases, hence consideration of the patient’s molecular patterns should be made when initiating treatment. For immunotherapy treatment, PD-L1 expression remains the most important biomarker to personalize immunotherapy, where patients with high PD-L1 expression should be treated with checkpoint inhibitor monotherapy. The addition of chemotherapy may be considered depending on symptom burden, clinical course, and performance status. Immunotherapy improves outcomes for patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. Further research and clinical trials should be done to identify more precise biomarkers and the optimal duration of immunotherapy. The high cost of drugs and the challenges with the importation of essential drugs further limits the effective management of lung cancer. Currently, there are no patient assistance programs hence patients bear the cost of treatment.

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Themes in the Management of Sickle Cell Disease
2021-08-05 19:00 - 20:30 | Virtual Event (Zoom), Kenya
Moderator: Dr. Paresh Dave, Clinical Pathologist, and Haemato-Oncologist, Medirest/
Sponsor: Novartis
Presenters:

Prof. Walter Mwanda, professor of Hematology and blood transfusion, University of Nairobi

Sickle cell disease (SCD) results from glutamine to valine substitution in the beta-globin gene that produces hemoglobin S (HbS). Pathophysiology manifests a complex network of interdependent processes. The patients have a lower life expectancy, with the majority in Kenya being below 12 years old. Less than 5% of SCD patients in Kenya are older than 25 years. The disease is characterized by dense, rigid red blood cells that are easily trapped within organs and have a sluggish microcirculation. Haemolysis is a common manifestation in acute and chronic states. The HbS polymerizes when exposed to reduced oxygenation. This causes deformation and damage to the red blood cells (RBCs) membrane, resulting in intravascular and extravascular hemolysis. The sickle RBCs block blood flow in capillaries and small vessels, causing acute pain in the patients. The immediate effects of hemolysis include loss of RBC which causes anemia, increased levels of toxic heme from the released hemoglobin, which depletes plasma haptoglobin and hemopexin, and saturates scavenger heme-binding proteins. Heme within the vessel interacts with inflammatory cells and the endothelium, damaging it. Anemia is a common manifestation in SCD and may be acute or chronic. Patients with SCD are immune-compromised and should be protected from infections. For example, vaccination together with the use of prophylactic penicillin has greatly reduced mortality and improved life expectancy in children with SCD. Vaso-occlusion is common among patients seeking treatment and is associated with adhesion of the sickle cells, coagulation of platelets, and activation of inflammatory cells. Hypercoagulable state of sickle cell anaemia adds to vascular occlusion. Hypercoagulation results from increased levels of thrombin and fibrin, and a marked increase in circulating tissue factor in the endothelial cells. Blood transfusion is known to worsen coagulation. Acute and chronic forms of organ injury. may occur. The prompt identification of a sickle cell event and timely therapeutic intervention are important prognostic factors, and delays could be life-threatening. Acute complications include acute chest syndrome, cerebral acute events, priapisms, while chronic complications include pulmonary hypertension, hepatic damage, kidney disease, splenomegaly, bone joint diseases, eye disease, and leg ulcers. Treatment is by use of hydroxyurea, bone marrow transplantation, and blood transfusion. However, transfusion therapy results in long-term iron overload complications. This is managed by the use of iron chelator drugs, including deferoxamine and Asunra, especially for patients on long-term blood transfusion. Various clinical trials on lentiviral gene therapy in SCD are ongoing. Gene editing by CRISPR/Cas9 to correct the beta-globin gene in hematopoietic stem cells is also undertrials

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Liver Cancer
2021-09-02 19:00 - 20:30 | Virtual Event (Zoom), Kenya
SPEAKER PROFILES:
DR RIAZ KASMANI
Dr. Riaz is currently based in Mombasa, practicing as a Medical Oncologist.
He headed the Oncological department at AgaKhan Hospital, Mombasa. He currently has a busy practice, with offices based at AgaKhan Hospital, Mombasa Hospital and Mombasa Cancer Centre. He is a visiting consultant at all the major hospitals in Mombasa, Kenya.
Dr. Riaz has a deep interest in research and has published in renowned oncological journals and has also been a speaker in many national and international conferences. Dr. Riaz completed his MMed in Internal Medicine at the University of Nairobi and worked as a consultant physician in the Ministry of Health before joining AgaKhan Hospital – Mombasa in 2012.
He then proceeded for sub-specialization in Medical Oncology to Tata Memorial Hospital – Mumbai, India. Tata Hospital is a world-renowned hospital and the largest and most prestigious oncology center in Asia, with a lot of research work undergoing. After completing his training, Dr. Riaz worked at the oncology clinic at Kenyatta National Hospital. Dr. Riaz further did intensive training in Palliative Care at the Marie Currie Institute in Paris, France.
Dr. Riaz is registered as a specialist in Oncology by the KMPD board. Dr. Riaz has been awarded a founding fellowship in the faculty of Internal Medicine by the East Central and Southern Africa College of Physicians (ESACOP)
His memberships to international organisations include ASCO, ESMO, AORTIC. He is also a member of KESHO, KAP, KMA and holds various honorary posts in KMA and KAP.
Dr. Karan R. K. Gandhi
Consultant General and Hepatobiliary Surgeon, Full-time faculty
Department of Surgery, Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi
Dr. Gandhi graduated from The University of Nairobi to receive his medical degree in 2009 and did a year of internship at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi (AKUH, N) in 2010. He began his surgical training at the University of Nairobi in 2011 and then moved to the University of Cape Town in 2013. He qualified as a Fellow of the College of Surgeons of South Africa in 2018 and then went on to complete his subspecialist certificate training in Surgical Gastroenterology, specifically Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary (HPB) Surgery, in 2020. He also received a Masters degree in Surgery (MMed) from the University of Cape Town in 2020. In the same year, Dr. Gandhi was also selected to represent Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) in the IHPBA 2020 International Fellows Retreat in Melbourne, Australia. His main clinical interests lie in Hepatic, Pancreatic, and Biliary surgery, as well as gastrointestinal surgery, advanced endoscopy, ERCP, and laparoscopy. Within the realm of HPB surgery, his primary focus has been on one of the most neglected diseases in the region, namely hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In the Global Surgery 2030 document published by The Lancet Commission in 2015, eastern, western, and central SSA were identified as the regions in the world with the greatest unmet needs in surgical care, and in a strange coincidence, these are also the regions in SSA with the highest HCC incidence.
Dr. Gandhi has recently joined the AKUHN as a full-time faculty member in the Department of General Surgery, with a view to pioneering and developing HPB Surgery in Kenya, East Africa, and SSA as a whole. He sees himself as one of a new generation of HPB surgeons that have a vision of changing the situation in SSA, where delivering a surgical service is hampered by a poorly managed and funded healthcare system, cost of treatment, and a shortage of healthcare professionals. With the connections made during his training and the vision and guidance of his mentors, Dr. Gandhi looks forward to creating a network of young HPB surgeons to facilitate this important endeavour. He has helped set up and is currently involved in various multi-disciplinary team (MDT) meetings, including a monthly Sub-Saharan HCC meeting and an international collaborative HCC meeting with Fortis Hospitals in India. He is also actively involved with the HPB service and MDT meetings at the Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya.
Dr. Gandhi is also passionate about teaching and training young surgeons in Kenya, especially in the fields of laparoscopy and surgical endoscopy delivery in rural areas. He is a member of the Operating Theatre Practitioners Association of Kenya (OTPAK), where training workshops are organised for surgical trainees in the Kenyan College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA), in order to train and empower them to perform basic laparoscopic surgical procedures in rural centres. His role as a faculty member at the AKUH, N also includes supervision and training of surgical residents, thereby promoting academia alongside clinical service delivery. He plans to set up a surgical registry database in the hospital, which will be used to generate data, audit practice, and produce high-quality research that can be published in reputable peer-reviewed journals.
With his solid background, training, passion and networking, Dr. Gandhi believes he is a key player in taking HPB surgery forward on the continent of Africa.

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Prostate Cancer
2021-09-09 19:00 - 20:30 | Virtual Event (Zoom), Kenya
SPEAKER PROFILES:
1. Dr. David K Kimani MBChB, MMed General Surgery UON (2007)
Dr. Kimani is a Consultant Urologist at Kenyatta National Hospital in Kenya, and Honorary Lecturer Department of Surgery at the University of Nairobi. He did his Clinical Fellowship in Urology at the Global Health Institute Chennai, India in 2014. He has keen interests in Prostate Care and Kidney Transplantation.
Dr. Kimani is a Member of SSK, KAUS, and the Society for International Urologists, (SIU), and the American Urological Association (AUA).
2. Dr. Wambui Kung’uDr. Wambui Kung’u is a Clinical Oncologist at Kenyatta University, Teaching, Referral, and Research Hospital. She holds a Master’s Degree in Clinical Oncology and Nuclear Medicine from Alexandria University, Egypt.She is a member of the Kenya Society of Hematology and Oncology (KESHO), African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC), European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO), and American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
Her main areas of interest are Head and Neck cancers, breast cancer, prostate cancer, and gastrointestinal cancer.

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Management of Myelofibrosis
2021-09-16 19:00 - 20:30 | Virtual Event (Zoom), Kenya
SPEAKER PROFILES:
Anne Mwirigi MBChB, MRCP, FRCPath (UK)
Dr. Mwirigi is a consultant haematologist working at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. She obtained her undergraduate MBChB from the University of Glasgow in 2002. After her house jobs and a medical rotation in Glasgow, she moved to London in February 2007.
Her career in Haematology began as a senior house officer at King’s College Hospital, following which she was accepted on the Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust Specialist Registrar Rotation in 2009. She obtained her certificate of completion of training in 2014 and thereafter took on consultant haematologist positions for a period of two and a half years at both Guy’s and St Thomas’ and King’s College Hospitals.
Dr. Mwirigi has a passion for haematology and always planned to practice haematology in her country of birth, Kenya. Since moving back in December 2016, she has engaged with haematopathologists and clinical haematologists in the region and is involved in collaborative ventures aimed at improving the quality of haematology services in Kenya. She was a key member of the scientific committee which organised the Haematology and Oncology Society of Africa 3rd inaugural conference held in Nairobi in August 2017.
Dr. Matilda Ong’ondi
Dr. Matilda is a Consultant Physician and Clinical Hemato-Oncologist at the Kenyatta National Teaching and Referral Hospital, Kenya’s oldest and largest hospital. She holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) degree (2005) and a Master of Medicine (MMed) degree in Internal Medicine (2010), both from the University of Nairobi. She is registered with the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council as an Internal Medicine Specialist.
Dr. Matilda pursued her Clinical Hemato-oncology training at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Royal Melbourne Hospital, Australia in 2017. In addition, she has undertaken various short Fellowship opportunities through the following institutions: International Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Foundation (Royal Adelaide Hospital and SAHMRI Adelaide, 2017); American Society of Hematology, Visitor Training Program at The Cancer Therapy and Research Centre, San Antonio Texas (2014); and Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota (2010).
Her main interests are Multiple Myeloma; Acute Leukemia; Chronic Leukemia; and Platelet disorders. Her other interests are Psycho-Oncology and Clinical Research. She is also passionate about clinical bedside teaching and mentorship.
Dr. Matilda is a member of various societies: Kenya Society of Hematologists and Oncologists (KESHO); European Hematology Association (EHA); and International Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis (ISTH). In addition, she served as a member of the bodies that developed the Kenya National Cancer Guidelines and NCCN Harmonized Guidelines.

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Transition in Care in Haematology and Oncology
2021-09-22 19:00 - 20:30
SPEAKER PROFILES:
DR. DOREEN KARIMI MUTUA
Dr. Mutua is a pediatrician whose passion for children with blood disorders and cancer was ignited during her residency training at the University of Nairobi where she noticed that most of these children had dismal outcomes due to late presentation, lack of appropriate diagnostic and treatment facilities. Dr. Mutua is a beneficiary of a two-year training program conducted as a twinning program between Jimma University (Ethiopia) and ASLAN Project (a USA-based Non- Governmental organization) that seeks to build the capacity of low and middle-income countries in treating children with blood disorders and cancer. She completed her training in May 2018 and returned back to Kenya to establish hematology/oncology services that include centers of excellence for pediatric cancer care and comprehensive sickle cell care at the Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital. She is passionate about raising awareness on childhood cancer with regard to early detection, establishing treatment guidelines, and improving outcomes for Kenyan children who have cancer. She is also keen on seeing the establishment of comprehensive sickle cell centers in the country which can help reduce the morbidity and mortality of these patients.
DR. SARAH MUMA
Dr. Sarah Muma is a Pediatric Oncologist at Kenyatta University Teaching Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH). She is a graduate of the University of Nairobi where she received her Bachelor’s degree (MBChB) as well as her Master’s degree in Pediatrics and Child Health. Her main interest is in developing low-cost, high-impact models of management for children with cancer in low-income settings. Towards this, Dr. Sarah did a fellowship in Pediatric Oncology at Frere Hospital, Walter Sisulu University in East London, South Africa. She then returned to Kenya to set up the Pediatric oncology service at AIC Kijabe Hospital, which has been operational since 2015. Dr. Muma holds a Master’s degree in Advanced Oncology from Ulm University in Germany. Her hope is that every child will one day have an equal chance at fighting a cancer diagnosis irrespective of their geographic location or socioeconomic situation.
DR. GRACE MBATIA MBChB, MMED (Paediatrics and Child Health), Paediatric Haematology/Oncology & Bone MarrowTransplant (Fellowship), Healthcare Management (Post-graduate Dip).
Dr. Mbatia is currently serving as Full-time faculty at the Aga Khan University, Nairobi providing clinical care to children with blood and cancer disorders as well as supporting pediatric post-graduate medical training for future paediatricians. Her core clinical interests lie in providing care to children with brain and solid tumors whereas her broader interests include supporting medical education, health-systems research, and the optimization of both general pediatric and pediatric blood and cancer care in resource-constrained settings.
MR. COSMAS KIPKOECH
Cosmas Kipkoech, MSW, BA Psychology and Social Work. PGD counseling. Advanced Cert Counselling supervision, Advanced Certificate Child Counselling, and Play Therapy. He is currently based at Aga Khan University Hospital.
DR. IRENE NZAMU
Dr. Nzamu is a Pediatric Hematologist Oncologist and Head, Pediatric Hemato Oncology Unit, Kenyatta National Hospital. She pursued her undergraduate training (MBChB) & postgraduate training (M.MED) at the University of Nairobi. Dr. Nzamu did her Fellowship in Pediatric Hematology & Oncology at Makerere University in collaboration with Baylor College of Medicine & Global HOPE Texas Children’s Hospital. She is passionate about offering evidence-based, affordable care for children with cancer & blood diseases in our resource-limited settings.
DR. MATILDA ONG’ONDI
Dr. Matilda is a Consultant Physician and Clinical Hemato-Oncologist at the Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya’s oldest and largest hospital. She holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) degree (2005) and a Master of Medicine (MMed) degree in Internal Medicine (2010), both from the University of Nairobi. She is registered with the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council as an Internal Medicine Specialist. Dr. Matilda pursued her Clinical Hemato-oncology training at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Royal Melbourne Hospital, Australia in 2017. In addition, she has undertaken various short Fellowship opportunities through the following institutions: International Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Foundation (Royal Adelaide Hospital and SAHMRI Adelaide, 2017); American Society of Hematology, Visitor Training Program at The Cancer Therapy and Research Centre, San Antonio Texas (2014); and Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota (2010). Her main interests are Multiple Myeloma; Acute Leukemia; Chronic Leukemia; and Platelet disorders. Her other interests are Psycho-Oncology and Clinical Research. She is also passionate about clinical bedside teaching and mentorship. Dr. Matilda is a member of various societies: Kenya Society of Hematologists and Oncologists (KESHO); European Hematology Association (EHA); and International Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis (ISTH). In addition, she served as a member of the bodies that developed the Kenya National Cancer Guidelines and NCCN Harmonized Guidelines.

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Prostate Cancer – Surgical and Radio Aspects
2021-09-23 19:00 - 20:30
SPEAKER PROFILES:
MR PATRICK G. MBURUGUMB ChB, MMed, FRCS Urol., FEBU, FCS, DLS (Strasbourg)
Dr. Mburugu is a Urologist at the Kenyatta National Hospital. He is chair of both KAUS and the KAUS conference and workshop organizing committees.
Dr. Mburugu represents KAUS at the SIU uCARE research council. His interests are oncological, laparoscopic, and endo-urological surgery.
DR HELENA MUSAU
Dr. Musau is a Consultant Clinical Oncologist working at Kenyatta University Teaching Research and Referral Hospital. She is also an adjunct Lecturer at the University of Nairobi, Radiation Oncology Program.
Dr. Musau is a member of various Ministry of Health technical working groups aimed at improving access to cancer care in Kenya. She has worked in both the private and public sectors as well as managing oncology and palliative care projects at various levels over the last 13 years.

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Endometrial Cancer part 2
2021-09-28 19:00 - 20:30 | Virtual Event (Zoom), Kenya
SPEAKER PROFILES:
Dr. Khadija Warfa
Dr. Warfa is a Consultant Obstetrician-Gynecologist and a Gynecologic Oncologist. She completed a four-year residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Aga Khan University in 2012. On completion, she worked as a clinical instructor in the department for a year and proceeded to the University of Calgary, Canada for a two-year fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology. She is involved in the training and supervision of postgraduate students, she runs various clinics at the hospital with a wide referral base from East and Central Africa.
Dr. Warfa is also involved in creating awareness in women’s cancer; she gives talks in various institutions voluntarily to educate women about cervical cancer screening, her objective is to reduce mortality related to Gynecologic Cancers in Kenya. She is a member of the European society of gynecologic oncology (ESGO) and a member of the Kenya Society of obstetricians and gynaecologists (KOGS).
Dr. Ahmed Komen
Dr. Komen is a clinical Radiation Oncologist. He is a fellow of the College of Medicine South Africa and holds a Master of Medicine in Radiation Oncology from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
He is a consultant at Kenyatta National Hospital and a part-time faculty member at Aga Khan University Hospital.
Dr. Komen is an active member of various multi-disciplinary tumour boards and the Kenya Society of Haematology and Oncology (KESHO).
Moderator: Dr. Gregory Ochieng Ganda
Dr. Ganda is a Gynaecologist Oncologist at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH). He currently runs the oncology clinic at the facility and also does his private practice at various private facilities in Kisumu including but not limited to the Bloom surgical center, Aga Khan Hospital, Kisumu Specialist Hospital. He runs the gynecology oncology clinic at JOOTRH on Tuesdays and splits the rest of his time in the wards and in the theatre.
His work as a medical officer in remote areas in Voi, where women had bad obstetric outcomes led him to start the hot tea initiative (where women who had delivered were given hot tea and baby shawls as a motivation for hospital delivery), renovation and opening of the theater which led to his special recognition and Masters sponsorship. He went into Oncology after having met many patients with poor survival rates after lack of access to specialty care and wanted to make a difference.
Dr. Ganda has a Master of Medicine in Gynecology oncology from Makerere University and a fellowship in gynecology oncology from Moi University in collaboration with the University of Toronto. He previously worked at the Coast General hospital, Ngao district hospital, and Migori county hospital.

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Prostate Cancer; Metastatic Adenocarcinoma
2021-09-30 19:00 - 20:30
SPEAKER PROFILES:
Dr. Manel Haj Mansour
Dr. Mansour is a consultant physician and board-certified medical oncologist currently working at the Aga Khan University Hospital. She was formerly a consultant medical oncologist at Texas Cancer Centre, Nairobi, and also worked as a consultant medical oncologist and a lecturer at Abderrahmen University Hospital, Tunisia.
Dr. Mansour graduated from the Faculty of Medicine of Tunis in 2012 and completed medical oncology residency in 2017.
She holds:

A certificate of completion of Oncologic Science Course online in Breast Cancer treatments from The Africa Breast University.

A certificate of medical oncology training on XXXIIth course antitumor chemotherapy and cancer medical treatment at Gustave Roussy Institute Paris, France.

A post-graduate certificate in Prevention and Palliative Care in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse.
A post-graduate certificate in Thoracic Oncology, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis.
A post-graduate certificate in Breast Disease, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis. She is a member of ESMO, ASCO, STOM (Tunisian Society of Medical Oncology), and KESHO. Her areas of interest include breast cancer, lung cancer, gastrointestinal cancers, gynecological and genitourinary cancers.

Moderator: Dr. Edward Chege Ng’ang’a MBChB, MMed
Dr. Chege obtained his medical degree from Moi University School of Medicine in 2008 and completed residency training in radiology at Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi in 2016. He then undertook a one-year subspecialist training in oncology imaging at the Royal Marsden NHS Trust in London UK. He was then appointed consultant radiologist at AKUH, where he is the radiology lead in body cross-sectional imaging, and section head for CT.
Dr. Chege’s interests lay mainly in cross-sectional oncology imaging, non-vascular Interventional radiology, and functional MR imaging

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Oligometastatic Breast Cancer
2021-10-07 19:00 - 20:30
SPEAKER PROFILES:
Dr. Anthony Ndiritu
Dr. Ndiritu is a Consultant Clinical Oncologist at the Kenyatta National Hospital. His main interests lie in Head and Neck Cancer, CNS, and Gastrointestinal tract malignancies.
Dr. Ndiritu’s research interest is in cancer of the endometrium.
Moderator: Dr. Angela McLigeyo.
Dr. McLigeyo is a licensed Physician and Medical Oncologist practicing in Kenya. She has a Master of Medicine in Internal Medicine from the University of Nairobi, a M.Sc. in Clinical Oncology from Ulm University (Germany), and a Fellowship in Medical Oncology from the University of Nairobi. In addition, she obtained a 5-year board certification in Medical Oncology from ESMO in 2019.
She has over 17 years of experience in hospital and clinical settings.
Her core skills are in clinical decision-making in internal medicine and oncology, conducting training, streamlining medical education, and conducting research as well as participation in the development of treatment guidelines and protocols.
She currently provides comprehensive oncology healthcare at both public and private health facilities, conducts research in oncology and internal medicine when opportunities arise and is engaged in teaching internal medicine and oncology at the Kenyatta University. She has authored several research articles in peer-reviewed journals and presented abstracts at several conferences.

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Breast Cancer Considerations in a Reproductive Age-Group
2021-10-14 19:00 - 20:30
SPEAKER PROFILE:
Dr. Gladwell Gichuru-Kiarie
Dr. Gladwell Kiarie graduated with MBChB (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) degrees from The University of Nairobi and went ahead to receive her post-graduate degree in Internal Medicine from the same institution. After receiving her undergraduate degrees, she did her internship at the Kenyatta National Hospital before proceeding to pursue her fellowship in Medical Oncology in London, England.
After sub-specialization in Medical Oncology, she returned to Kenya where she was one of the founding members of the Oncology Unit at the Aga Khan University Hospital and was also part of the team that set up the first Kenyatta National Hospital Tumor Board in 2007 that involved multiple personnel from surgical and medical departments.
She then joined the University of Nairobi in the Clinical Medicine Department as a Senior Lecturer. Soon afterward, she enrolled for a PhD program with the Bart’s Cancer Institute under the supervision of Professor John Gribben. She recently received Fellowship to the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (FRCPE).
She currently runs a private practice at The Nairobi Hospital and also reviews patients at other leading hospitals in Nairobi and Nakuru including The Aga Khan University Hospital, MP Shah Hospital, and Avenue Hospital. She also serves in the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board since her appointment in 2015 to the Regulatory Department of the Board.
She is a member of the Kenya Society of Haematology and Oncology (KESHO) where she also served as the treasurer in 2004 and is also a full member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) as well as European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO).
She continues to be an advocate for early diagnosis of cancer and is greatly involved in programs that focus on providing easy access to basic screening services to the underprivileged including setting up oncology services at the county level. In recognition for this, she won the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) in 2014 for screening in poor settings.
MODERATOR: Dr. Mohammed Ezzi
Dr. Mohammed Ezzi is a Lecturer and Consultant Medical Oncologist. He is actively involved in clinical practice, teaching, and cancer research at the University of Nairobi and Kenyatta National Hospital. Dr. Ezzi holds a Master’s degree in Internal Medicine from the University of Nairobi. He later did his Fellowship in Medical Oncology at the University of Nairobi.
He has presented at several symposia, workshops, and conferences both locally and internationally. He has several publications in peer-reviewed international journals. Dr. Mohammed Ezzi is a member of KESHO, ASCO, ESMO, AORTIC, and KAP. His key areas of interest include breast cancer and clinical pharmacology.

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New Innovations in Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Screening
2021-10-21 19:00 - 20:30
SPEAKER PROFILES:
Dr. Shahin Sayed
Dr. Sayed is Associate Professor & Consultant in Anatomical Pathology and Cytology, in the Department of Pathology, Medical College, Aga Khan University, and the current Chair and Laboratory Director of Pathology at AKUH, N
Dr. Sayed graduated from the University of Nairobi with a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery degree. She holds a Master of Medicine in General Pathology from the University of Nairobi where she was awarded the best student in Pathology prize. She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists, United Kingdom, and a Fellow of the College of Pathologists of East Central and Southern Africa.
Dr. Sayed is the Secretary-General of the College of Pathologists of East Central and Southern Africa, Chair of the Academic Committee of the Senate – East Central and Southern African (ECSA) College of Health Sciences, Chair of the Board of Directors of African Strategies for Advancing Pathology (ASAP, co-chair Technical Working Group (TWG) on Diagnostics for the Cancer Control Programme – Ministry of Health, Kenya (MoH).
She is also a steering committee member and Commissioner for the Lancet Commission on Diagnostics and a member of the Lancet Oncology Commission for Sub-Saharan Africa. She has also been a recent member of the WHO-SAGE IVD Committee (2019-2020). Dr. Sayed is a member of the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology (USCAP) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
Dr. Sayed is in charge of the breast service at AKUHN. Her research interest span oncopathology with a special focus on breast cancer and solid haematolymphoid malignancies. She has several grants and peer-reviewed publications in her area of research interest. She has also led research initiatives and interventions that have developed a sustainable model of community-based engagement to improve breast cancer screening and diagnosis.
Dr. Rose Ndumia
Dr. Ndumia is an assistant professor and consultant radiologist in Breast Imaging. She obtained her medical degree from the University of Nairobi and her Radiology Residency in Radiology at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi. In 2017, she completed a one-year fellowship in diagnostic and interventional breast imaging from the Marleen Greenebaum Diagnostic Breast Centre, Hadassah University Hospital in Jerusalem, Israel with observership experience at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre’s Breast Imaging Center in New York. She has keen interests in breast imaging, medical education, and research.
She is the section head of breast imaging and is actively involved in the acquisition of state-of-the-art imaging equipment and initiation of new procedures such as Digital mammography with 3D tomosynthesis, Stereotactic biopsies, and Vacuum Assisted Biopsy (VAB), and Occult lesion localizations. She takes the Radiology lead in the weekly multidisciplinary breast tumor board meetings and is the current Program Director for the Radiology Residency Training Program.
Her research interests are mainly in breast cancer, assessment of mammographic breast density, global health, and medical education. At a policy level, she has worked in conjunction with the Kenya Association of Radiologists to develop national breast cancer screening guidelines as well as imaging guidelines that when implemented should improve overall patient outcomes.
Moderator: Dr. Mercy Gatua.
Dr. Gatua is a Medical Oncologist at the Kenyatta University Teaching Research and Referral Hospital. She received her Medical Oncology Fellowship from the University of Nairobi in 2019. Prior to that, she earned her MMED in Internal Medicine at the same university (UON). Her main interests are in the management of acute leukemia’s, GI malignancies and Cervical Cancer. She also has an interest in research geared to understanding the genetic basis of cancer.

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Metastatic Breast Cancer
2021-10-28 19:00 - 20:30 | Virtual Event (Zoom), Kenya
SPEAKER PROFILES:
Dr. Beverly ChereremDr. Cheserem is an Associate Professor and Consultant neurosurgeon at Aga Khan University Hospital. She has a sub-specialty interest in skull base surgery and pituitary; both microsurgical and endoscopic techniques. Her other interests include global health, teaching and clinical research.
Qualifications:BM ( Honours), University of SouthamptonSouth London Neurosurgical training program, UKFRCS ( Neurosurgery) – Royal College of Surgeons, UKSkullbase (microscopic and endoscopic techniques), University Hospital Wales, UKTravelling fellow of Bellaria Hospital (Italy), Lariboisiere Hospital (France) and UPMC (USA)Weill Cornell Global Health Fellowship based at Muhumbili Orthopaedic Institute Tanzania
* Fellow Royal College of Surgeons, England (FRCS, Eng)* Member, Association of Medical Educators (AOME) UK* Member, British Association of Surgical Oncology (BASO)* Full Member, Society of British Neurosurgeons (SBNS), UK,* Member, Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS)* Member, Kenya Medical Association (KMA)
Leadership positions:Chairperson, Kenya Association of women Surgeons (KAWS)Vice-chair, Scientific Committee, Surgical Society of Kenya (SSK)Committee member, Global Surgery Committee, Surgical Society of Kenya
Dr. Cheserem has been awarded the 2021, Future Women Leaders Fellowship Award by the Congress of Neurologocal Surgeons (CNS), US
Dr. Ahmed KomenDr. Ahmed Komen is a Clinical Radiation Oncologist. He is a fellow of College of Medicine South Africa and holds a Master of Medicine in Radiation Oncology from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. He is a Consultant at Kenyatta National Hospital and a part time faculty member at Aga Khan University Hospital.
Dr. Komen is an active member of various multi-disciplinary tumour boards and the Kenya Society of Haematology and Oncology (KESHO).
Moderator: Dr. Asim Jamal Shaikh Dr. Jamal Shaikh is an Associate Professor, Consultant Medical Oncologist and Division Chief of medical oncology, Department of Hematology and Oncology, at The Aga Khan university Hospital Nairobi.Dr. Shaikh received his internal Medicine residency and medical oncology fellowship training from Pakistan. He is a Fellow of College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan in the subjects of internal medicine and medical oncology both, and The Royal college of Physicians UK.Dr. Shaikh has a Leadership Diploma from Harvard Kennedy School of Executive education USA, and the Graduate School of Media at The Aga Khan University. He is actively involved in clinical service and research. His focus of clinical practice is in solid tumors. He has published widely and specially recently on genomic and clinical aspects of Kenyan and East African women with breast cancer.He Leads the Kenyan Metastatic breast cancer network (www.kmbcn.org ) in Kenya. He is the recipient of several international collaborative grants as clinical investigator for oncology research including the SPARC grant from the UICC. He has laid the foundation of medical oncology fellowship programs at the Aga Khan University in Nairobi, and with his academic interests supervises several master level students to their thesis related to cancer studies.

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Multicentric Castleman's Disease
2021-11-11 19:00 - 20:30 | Virtual Event (Zoom), Kenya
SPEAKER PROFILES:
Anne Mwirigi MBChB, MRCP, FRCPath (UK)
Dr Mwirigi is a consultant haematologist working at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. She obtained her undergraduate MBChB from the University of Glasgow in 2002. After her house jobs and a medical rotation in Glasgow, she moved to London in February 2007.
Her career in Haematology began as a senior house officer at King’s College Hospital, following which she was accepted on the Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust Specialist Registrar Rotation in 2009. She obtained her certificate of completion of training in 2014, and thereafter took on consultant haematologist positions for a period of two and a half years at both Guy’s and St Thomas’ and King’s College Hospitals.
Dr Mwirigi has a passion for haematology and always planned to practice haematology in her country of birth, Kenya. Since moving back in December 2016, she has engaged with haematopathologists and clinical haematologists in the region, and is involved collaborative ventures aimed at improving the quality of haematology services in Kenya. She was a key member of the scientific committee which organised the Haematology and Oncology Society of Africa 3rd inaugural conference held in Nairobi in August 2017.
Dr. Laura Chebet Kirui MBChB BSc MRCP FRCPath
Dr. Laura Kirui is a Consultant Haemato-Oncologist, in the Department of Haematology-Oncology at Aga Khan University Hospital Nairobi.
Alongside her work in acute leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, she has a special interest in haemostasis and thrombosis and obstetric haematology. In her role as Clinical Lead for haemostasis and thrombosis she is working to expand this service at AKUHN with new dedicated clinics, guidelines and expanded laboratory testing.
Prior to this Dr. Kirui was a Consultant Haematologist/Haemato-oncologist at the North Middlesex University Hospital, UK working in malignant and benign haematology and heading the Transfusion and Haematology laboratory.
Dr. Kirui underwent specialist training in Haematology at University College London Hospital where she received her Certificate of Completion of Training.
She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologist, UK and a Member of the Royal College of Physicians and has a Bachelor’s of Medicine and Surgery from the University of Leeds, UK with an intercalated BSc in International Health.
Moderator: Dr. Fredrick Otieno Okinyi
Dr.Okinyi is a lecturer of haematology at the school of medicine, university of Nairobi and a consultant at Kenyatta National Hospital. He has 18years of practice of medicine in various regions in Kenya and seven years of teaching and research in Haematology. He has received trainings and fellowship in various aspects of haematology mainly oncology, palliative care, clinical haematology and hematopathology in diverse centers in the U.S.A. He is also the current chairman of chairman of Kenya sickle cell federation. He has participated in the in research and development of guidelines for clinical practice in Kenya
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Medicine & Surgery from Moi University, a diploma in Forensic Pathology from the University of Witwatersrand. Dr. Okinyi also holds a Master’s degree in Human Pathology from the University of Nairobi. He is a fellow of City of Hope National Hospital, California.
His areas of interest are Sickle Cell disease, Aplastic anemias, Thrombotic and bleeding disorders, Leukaemias and lymphomas and Palliative oncology.

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Paediatric Oncology in Kenya: Current Landscape and Future Perspectives
2021-11-25 19:00 - 20:30
Speaker Profiles:
Dr. Gilbert Olbara
Dr. Olbara is a Paediatrician/Paediatric Hematology Oncology Fellow at the Moi Teaching Referral Hospital/ Moi University. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Medicine and Surgery from Moi University and a Master’s in Child Health and Paediatrics from the same institution.
Dr. Olbara is also a clinical researcher at Ampath Oncology.
He has an interest in child health and development and with a lifetime goal of contributing to improved treatment outcomes of childhood cancer in low resource settings through translational research and knowledge dissemination
Dr. Festus Njuguna
Dr. Njuguna is a Lecturer at Moi University, School of medicine, Department of child Health and Paediatrics; he is also the Head of Paediatric haemato-oncology unit at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital. He attained his Bachelor’s degree in Medicine and Surgery from Moi University and a Master’s degree in Medicine (Paediatrics) from the same institution.
Dr. Njuguna has several publications in peer reviewed journals.
Moderator: DR. IRENE NZAMU
Dr. Nzamu is a Pediatric Hematologist Oncologist and Head, Pediatric Hemato Oncology Unit, Kenyatta National Hospital. She pursued her undergraduate training (MBChB) & postgraduate training (M.MED) at the University of Nairobi. Dr. Nzamu did her Fellowship in Pediatric Hematology & Oncology at Makerere University in collaboration with Baylor College of Medicine & Global HOPE Texas Children’s Hospital. She is passionate about offering evidence-based, affordable care for children with cancer & blood diseases in our resource-limited settings.

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Cervical Cancer: HPV Vaccination and Policies
2022-01-13 19:00 - 20:30
SPEAKER PROFILES:
Dr. Mary Nyangasi
Dr Nyangasi is a public health specialist/epidemiologist with interests in Non-Communicable Disease especially Cancer. She earned a medical degree from the University of Nairobi and a Master’s in Public Health in Epidemiology and Disease Control from Kenyatta University. Dr Nyangasi holds postgraduate certificates in Non-Communicable Diseases diplomacy from Graduate Institute Geneva and Leadership and Management in Health from the University of Washington.
Dr Nyangasi has experience spanning over 15 years in clinical practice and public health with 7 years of specialist oncology practice and currently working in the area of cancer control programming and policy. She is a member of African Cancer Coalition and has contributed to the development of NCCN harmonized guidelines for head and neck cancers as well as the conceptualization and implementation of Chemosafe project in Kenya.
Brief on current appointment: Head of the National Cancer Control Programme in the Ministry of Health within the Department of Non-Communicable Diseases, the arm within the Ministry that coordinates the implementation of cancer control activities on behalf of the Ministry. Her main interest is in breast, cervical and colorectal cancers prevention and control, research, innovations in public health for strengthening the health systems and implementation science.
Dr Rose Jalang’o
Dr. Rose Jalang’o is a Public Health Specialist, with a sub specialization in Vaccinology, working with the Ministry of Health in Kenya at the National Vaccines and Immunization Program as a Strategic Information Management and Communications Officer.
Dr Jalang’o trained as a medical doctor at the University of Nairobi and holds a Public Health Master’s degree from the same university. She has additionally done a course in the epidemiological evaluation of vaccines at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine as well as a course in advanced vaccinology at the Merieux Foundation and University of Geneva.
Dr Jalang’o has vast experience in new vaccines applications, introductions and monitoring. In Kenya, she has been actively involved the introduction and monitoring of the HPV vaccine, Men A vaccine campaign, Malaria Vaccine, influenza vaccines and COVID 19 vaccines. She is also serves on the Kenya National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (KENITAG) secretariat.
Moderator: Dr. Khadija Warfa
Dr. Warfa is a Consultant Obstetrician-Gynecologist and a Gynecologic Oncologist. She completed a four-year residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Aga Khan University in 2012. On completion, she worked as a clinical instructor in the department for a year and proceeded to the University of Calgary, Canada for a two-year fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology. She is involved in the training and supervision of postgraduate students, she runs various clinics at the hospital with a wide referral base from East and Central Africa.
Dr. Warfa is also involved in creating awareness in women’s cancer; she gives talks in various institutions voluntarily to educate women about cervical cancer screening, her objective is to reduce mortality related to Gynecologic Cancers in Kenya. She is a member of the European society of gynecologic oncology (ESGO) and a member of the Kenya Society of obstetricians and gynaecologists (KOGS).

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Cervical Cancer: Part 2
2022-01-20 19:00 - 20:30
SPEAKER PROFILES:
DR ANGELA K. WAWERU
MBChB, MRCP, FRCR (UK)
Dr. Angela is a Consultant Clinical Oncologist. She is the Section Head, Radiation Oncology in the Department of Haematology-Oncology at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi.
Dr. Angela’s areas of interest include gynecological, head and neck cancers.
Professional Associations

Fellow of the Royal College of Radiologists, UK.
Member of the Royal College of Physicians.
Member of Kenya Medical and Dentists Council.
Member of Kenya Society of Haematology and Oncology

DR GREGORY OCHIENG GANDA
Dr. Gregory Ochieng Ganda is a renowned Gynecologist oncologist at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH). He currently runs the oncology clinic at the facility and also does his private practice at various private facilities in Kisumu including but not limited to the Bloom surgical center, Aga Khan Hospital, Kisumu Specialist Hospital. He runs the gynecology oncology clinic at JOOTRH on Tuesdays and splits the rest of his time in the wards and in the theatre.
His work as a medical officer in remote areas in Voi, where women had bad obstetric outcomes led him to start the hot tea initiative (where women who had delivered were given hot tea and baby shawls as a motivation for hospital delivery), renovation and opening of the theater which led to his special recognition and Masters sponsorship. He went into Oncology after having met many patients with poor survival rates after lack of access to specialty care and wanted to make a difference.
His vision for the Kisumu County Cancer Alliance is to have a platform where all like-minded partners work together for the common good of the people of Kisumu to improve cancer outcomes by having an infrastructure for screening, early detection, and treatment to improve survival for cancer patients.
His hobbies involve being outdoors, traveling, hiking, and rock climbing.
Dr. Ganda has a Master of Medicine in Gynecology oncology from Makerere University and a fellowship in gynecology oncology from Moi University in collaboration with the University of Toronto. He previously worked at the Coast General hospital, Ngao district hospital, and Migori county hospital.
DR AHMED KOMEN (MODERATOR)
Dr Ahmed Komen is a Clinical Radiation Oncologist. He is a fellow of College of Medicine South Africa and holds a Master of Medicine in Radiation Oncology from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
He is a consultant at Kenyatta National Hospital and a part time faculty member at Aga Khan University Hospital.
Dr. Komen is an active member of various multi-disciplinary tumour boards and the Kenya Society of Haematology and Oncology (KESHO).

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World Cancer Day
2022-02-03 19:00 - 20:30
SPEAKER PROFILES:
Professor Shahin Sayed
Dr. Sayed is Associate Professor & Consultant in Anatomical Pathology and Cytology, in the Department of Pathology, Medical College, Aga Khan University and the current Chair and Laboratory Director of Pathology at AKUH, Nairobi.
Dr. Sayed graduated from the University of Nairobi with a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery degree. She holds a Master of Medicine in General Pathology from the University of Nairobi where she was awarded the best student in Pathology prize. She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists, United Kingdom, and a Fellow of the College of Pathologists of East Central and Southern Africa.
Dr. Sayed is the Secretary-General of the College of Pathologists of East Central and Southern Africa, Chair of the Academic Committee of the Senate – East Central and Southern African (ECSA) College of Health Sciences, Chair of the Board of Directors of African Strategies for Advancing Pathology (ASAP, co-chair Technical Working Group (TWG) on Diagnostics for the Cancer Control Programme – Ministry of Health, Kenya (MoH).
She is also a steering committee member and Commissioner for the Lancet Commission on Diagnostics and a member of the Lancet Oncology Commission for Sub-Saharan Africa. She has also been a recent member of the WHO-SAGE IVD Committee (2019-2020). Dr. Sayed is a member of the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology (USCAP) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
Dr. Sayed is in charge of the breast service at AKUHN. Her research interests span to oncopathology with a special focus on breast cancer and solid haematolymphoid malignancies. She has several grants and peer-reviewed publications in her area of research interest. She has also led research initiatives and interventions that have developed a sustainable model of community-based engagement to improve breast cancer screening and diagnosis.
Dr Rose Ndumia
Dr. Rose Ndumia is an Assistant Professor and Consultant Radiologist in Breast Imaging. She obtained her medical degree from the University of Nairobi and her Radiology Residency in Radiology at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi. In 2017, she completed a one year fellowship in diagnostic and interventional breast imaging from the Marleen Greenebaum Diagnostic Breast Centre, Hadassah University Hospital in Jerusalem, Israel with observership experience at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre’s Breast Imaging Center in New York. She has keen interests in breast imaging, medical education and research.
She is the section head of breast imaging and is actively involved in the acquisition of state-of-the art imaging equipment and initiation of new procedures such as Digital mammography with 3D tomosynthesis, Stereotactic biopsies, Vacuum Assisted Biopsy (VAB) and Occult lesion localizations. She takes the Radiology lead in the weekly multidisciplinary breast tumor board meetings and is the current Program Director for the Radiology Residency Training Program.
Her research interests are mainly in breast cancer, assessment in of mammographic breast density, global health and medical education. At a policy level, she has worked in conjunction with the Kenya Association of Radiologists to develop national breast cancer screening guidelines as well as imaging guidelines that when implemented should improve overall patient outcomes.
Professor Marion Saville
Professor Marion Saville has been Executive Director of the Australian Centre for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer for over 20 years, where she has led her laboratory, population health and digital health teams focussing on the control of cancer and infectious diseases through the delivery of pathology and registry services, particularly focussing on cervical cancer prevention.
Marion is a New Zealand medical graduate who trained in Anatomic Pathology at Northwestern University in Chicago. She went on to complete a fellowship in Cytopathology at East Carolina University and a research fellowship at Georgetown University, focussing on HPV. She has held the position of Executive Director of VCS Foundation Ltd. since 2000.
Marion has served on cervical screening advisory committees in Australia, New Zealand and Ontario. She currently chairs the working group to review Australia’s Guidelines for the management of screen-detected abnormalities in the National Cervical Screening Program. Marion has focussed on research and implementation projects demonstrating that it is possible to deliver high quality, acceptable cervical screening in a range of resource poor settings including Malaysia, PNG and Samoa. She is also interested in how culturally safe screening can meet the needs of disadvantaged groups who have poorer cancer outcomes, in Australia and New Zealand. Marion was appointed as a member (AM) of the Order of Australia on Australia Day 2020 for her significant service to women’s health through cervical screening initiatives.
Dr Fidel Rubagumya
Dr Fidel Rubagumya is a clinical and radiation oncologist at Rwanda Military Hospital ,a visiting Clinical Oncologist at King Faisal Hospital and a lecturer at University of Global Health Equity.He received his medical degree from the National University of Rwanda . He completed his medical internship at Butaro Cancer Center of Excellence and received his Master of Medicine in Clinical & Radiation Oncology from the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences.
Dr Rubagumya served as a General Practitioner at Butaro Cancer Center of Excellence before joining Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences. While Dr Rubagumya treats all cancers, he has special interest in head and neck cancers, brain gynecological, and gastro-intestinal cancers, as well as cancers that affect special groups. He also has a keen interest in end of life care and Global Oncology.
Dr Rubagumya is an enthusiastic cancer advocate. He has been involved in many cancer control activities in Rwanda and internationally. Dr Rubagumya is the Founder of Rwanda Children’s Cancer Relief (RCCR), an organization that raises awareness on childhood cancers and advocates for children living with cancer, and their families. Before founding RCCR, Dr Rubagumya was actively involved in breast cancer advocacy working with Breast Cancer Initiative East Africa (BCIEA). He is a member of numerous cancer organizations both locally and internationally. Dr Rubagumya is a recipient of many prestigious awards including the American Cancer Society Global Scholar award,the the International Development and Education Award (IDEA) of American Society of Clinical Oncology, and both the International Cancer Research Technology Transfer Fellowship (ICRETT) and the African Cancer Fellowship awards of Union for International Cancer Control(UICC) and Africa Cancer Leader Institute award of African Organization of Cancer Research and Training (AORTIC), among others. Dr Rubagumya is the Chair of young oncologists group at African Organization of Cancer Research and Training (AORTIC).
Dr Rubagumya’s research focuses on integrating technological advances like mobile applications to improve cancer care in low resource settings. He has published several scientific papers in internationally recognized journals. He also authored a book chapter on cervical cancer. He was awarded the ASCO International Innovation Grant for his mobile application used to help increase early detection of skin cancers in people with albinism.
Moderator: Dr Andrew Odhiambo
Dr. Andrew is a Consultant Physician/Medical Oncologist & Program Director/Lecturer (Medical Oncology Fellowship Program) at the University of Nairobi. Dr. Andrew holds a Master’s degree in Internal Medicine from the University of Nairobi. He has attended a preceptorship training in Haematological Oncology & Infectious Diseases from the University of Maryland Marleen & Stewart Greenbaum Cancer Centre in the United States. He later did his Fellowship in Medical Oncology in the United Kingdom and was certified by the Federation of Royal College of Physicians of the United Kingdom as well as the Association of Cancer Physicians and the European Society for Medical Oncology. He is also a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh as well as the East, Central & Southern Africa College of Physicians.
He is the outgoing Secretary & former Treasurer of Kenya Society of Haematology & Oncology (KESHO). Dr. Andrew is a member of KAP, ASCO, ESMO, AORTIC & ECSACOP. Dr. Andrew serves as an expert advisor for local and international bodies i.e. MOH, Kenya Cancer Prevention TWG, ASCO & NCCN Cancer Treatment Guidelines Committees. He has published several articles on cancer in both international and local peer reviewed scientific journals.
Dr. Andrew was awarded the prestigious Business Daily Africa Top 40 under 40 men in the year 2017. He is passionate about cancer education and awareness especially through digital platforms. He has over 50 appearances in mainstream local and international TV and print media promoting cancer awareness.
His key areas of sub specialization and interest include Colon cancer, Stomach cancer, Breast Cancer, Pancreatic, Liver & Bile Duct cancer, Cancer or Unknown Primary, Lymphoma as well as newer treatments i.e. Immunotherapy & Targeted therapy for Colon, Skin, Lung, Kidney cancers etc.

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Rectal Cancer
2022-02-10 19:00 - 20:30
DR WAMBUI KUNG’U
Dr. Wambui Kung’u is a Clinical Oncologist at Kenyatta University, Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital. She holds a Master’s Degree in Clinical Oncology and Nuclear Medicine from Alexandria University, Egypt.
She is a member of the Kenya Society of Hematology and Oncology (KESHO), African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC), European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO), and American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
Her main areas of interest are head and neck cancers, breast cancer, prostate cancer, and gastrointestinal cancer.
DR ALEX MUTURI
MBChB, MMed Gen Surgery, FCS Gen Surgery(ECSA)
Dr Muturi is a Consultant General Surgeon and Endoscopist at Kenyatta University Teaching Referral and Research Hospital (KUTTRH).
Has a keen interest in colorectal cancer surgery and research.
Dr Muturi is a Laparoscopy instructor at Nairobi Surgical Skills Centre (NSSC)-Chiromo. He is a unionist (KMPDC Trustee) where he champions welfare of both patients and healthcare workers.
He is a cancer screening and early diagnosis advocate and is passionate about patients’ safety and access to quality care for all.
DR ROGERS MONG’ARE (MODERATOR)
Dr Rogers Mongare is a Clinical and Radiation Oncologist at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) with special interest in GIT, Breast, Head & Neck and Gynaecological malignancies.
He conducts clinical practice and clinical teaching at the largest referral hospital in the region. He is also a member of faculty in Radiation Oncology at the Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiation Medicine, University of Nairobi. He is an active participant at the KNH multidisciplinary tumour boards working closely with other specialists in patient care.
Dr Mong’are is keen on research, evidence based medicine and passionate on ways of improving treatment outcomes in patients using systemic and radiation treatments. He is an astute specialist oncologist who enjoys technicalities of planning treatment by looking at anatomy and working with computers and new technologies to deliver treatment. He continues to offer guest lecture talks at different forums. Besides, he never misses his weekend cross country runs.

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International Childhood Cancer Day: Acute Leukemia
2022-02-17 19:00 - 20:30
SPEAKER PROFILES:
Dr Catherine Muendo (MBchB, MMED Paeds)
Dr Catherine Muendo is a Paediatric Hematologist and Oncologist who recently completed her fellowship training at Makerere University in collaboration with Mulago National Referral Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Cancer Children’s Hospital.
She works as a consultant paediatrician at Mbagathi County Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. She received her medical degree (MBChB) and pediatrics and child health degree (MMed) at the University of Nairobi.
Dr Muendo is enthusiastic about improving the outcomes of children with blood and cancer disorders in Kenya through novel interventions that are sustainable in a resource limited setting.
Dr. Deborah Omeddo
Dr. Deborah Omeddo is a Paediatric Haematologist and Oncologist working at the Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital.
She holds a Master’s in Paediatrics and Child Health from the University of Nairobi. She did her fellowship training at Makerere University.
Dr Omeddo strives to provide quality health services to children living with cancer and blood diseases. Her vision is that all children in Kenya will have access to quality healthcare services regardless of location and socio-economic status.
Moderator: Dr Grace Mbatia
Dr Grace Mbatia (MBChB, MMED (Paediatrics and Child Health), Paediatric Haematology/Oncology & Bone MarrowTransplant (Fellowship), Healthcare Management (Post-graduate Dip)
Dr Mbatia is currently serving as Full-time faculty at the Aga Khan University, Nairobi providing clinical care to children with blood and cancer disorders as well as supporting paediatric post-graduate medical training for future paediatricians. Her core clinical interests lie in providing care to children with brain and solid tumors whereas her broader interests include supporting medical education, health-systems research and the optimization of both general paediatric and paediatric blood and cancer care in resource-constrained settings.

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Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
2022-02-24 19:00 - 20:30
SPEAKER PROFILES:
DR ANGELA MCLIGEYO
Dr. Angela McLigeyo is a licensed Physician and Medical Oncologist practicing in Kenya. She has a Master of Medicine in Internal Medicine from the University of Nairobi, a M.Sc. in Clinical Oncology from Ulm University (Germany), and a Fellowship in Medical Oncology from the University of Nairobi. In addition, she obtained a 5-year board certification in Medical Oncology from ESMO in 2019. She has over 17 years of experiences in hospital and clinical settings.
She is a member of the Kenya Society of Hematology and Oncology (KESHO), European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) and American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). She is also a fellow of the East, Central and Southern Africa College of Physicians.
Her core skills are in clinical decision making in internal medicine and oncology, conducting trainings, streamlining medical education and conducting research as well as participation in the development of treatment guidelines and protocols.
She currently provides comprehensive oncology healthcare at both public and private health facilities, conducts research in oncology and internal medicine when opportunities arise, and is engaged in teaching internal medicine and oncology at the Kenyatta University. She has authored several research articles in peer reviewed journals and presented abstracts at several conferences.
DR KARAN GANDHI
Dr. Gandhi graduated from The University of Nairobi to receive his medical degree in 2009 and did a year of internship at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi (AKUH,N) in 2010. He began his surgical training at the University of Nairobi in 2011 and then moved to the University of Cape Town in 2013. He qualified as a Fellow of the College of Surgeons of South Africa in 2018 and then went on to complete his subspecialist certificate training in Surgical Gastroenterology, specifically Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary (HPB) Surgery, in 2020. He also received a Masters degree in Surgery (MMed) from the University of Cape Town in 2020. In the same year, Dr. Gandhi was also selected to represent Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) in the IHPBA 2020 International Fellows Retreat in Melbourne, Australia. His main clinical interests lie in Hepatic, Pancreatic and Biliary surgery, as well as gastrointestinal surgery, advanced endoscopy, ERCP and laparoscopy. Within the realm of HPB surgery, his primary focus has been on one of the most neglected diseases in the region, namely hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In the Global Surgery 2030 document published by The Lancet Commission in 2015, eastern, western and central SSA were identified as the regions in the world with the greatest unmet needs in surgical care and in a strange coincidence, these are also the regions in SSA with the highest HCC incidence.
Dr. Gandhi has recently joined the AKUH,N as a full-time faculty member in the department of General Surgery, with a view to pioneering and developing HPB Surgery in Kenya, East Africa and SSA as a whole. He sees himself as one of a new generation of HPB surgeons that have a vision of changing the situation in SSA, where delivering a surgical service is hampered by a poorly managed and funded healthcare system, cost of treatment and a shortage of healthcare professionals. With the connections made during his training and the vision and guidance of his mentors, Dr. Gandhi looks forward to creating a network of young HPB surgeons to facilitate this important endeavour. He has helped set up and is currently involved in various multi-disciplinary team (MDT) meetings, including a monthly Sub-Saharan HCC meeting and an international collaborative HCC meeting with Fortis Hospitals in India. He is also actively involved with the HPB service and MDT meetings at the Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya.
Dr. Gandhi is also passionate about teaching and training of young surgeons in Kenya, especially in the fields of laparoscopy and surgical endoscopy delivery in rural areas. He is a member of the Operating Theatre Practitioners Association of Kenya (OTPAK), where training workshops are organised for surgical trainees in the Kenyan College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA), in order to train and empower them to perform basic laparoscopic surgical procedures in rural centres. His role as a faculty member at the AKUH,N also includes supervision and training of surgical residents, thereby promoting academia alongside clinical service delivery. He plans to set up a surgical registry database in the hospital, which will be used to generate data, audit practice and produce high-quality research that can be published in reputable peer-reviewed journals.
DR CAROLINE TONIO (MODERATOR)
The moderator for this session is Dr Caroline Tonio. Dr Tonio is currently a Physician and Medical Oncologist at the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital in Kenya.

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Cancer Research in Kenya Symposium
2022-02-26 09:00 - 12:00 | Virtual Event (Zoom), Kenya
The Kenya Society of Haematology and Oncology (KESHO) organized a virtual symposium on the topic of “Cancer Research in Kenya” on 26th February 2022. The symposium attracted over 400 participants not only from Kenya and Africa but also from other parts of the world. The participants ranged from doctors (from general practitioners to oncologists, surgeons, haematologists, etc.), nurses, scientists, pharmacists, students, and researchers from various areas of research related to cancer.
There were six panellist speakers who highlighted the need for research, research infrastructure and shared opportunities to get involved. The participants were asked to leave comments. The event lasted about 3 and a half hours and ended with a panel discussion with the speakers and the audience. During the panel discussion, the questions asked by the participants were discussed. In general, the talks and discussions revolved around doing local research, publishing it locally, and addressing the local issues with tips from the international arena. A detailed version of the talks of the speakers is included in this report, along with their biographies in the end. SPEAKER PROFILES:
PROF NICHOLAS ANTHONY OTHIENO-ABINYA
Nicholas Anthony Othieno-Abinya is a Consultant Medical Oncologist at the Nairobi Hospital Cancer Centre. He was formerly Professor of Medicine at the University of Nairobi, Kenya, where he was the Director of Medical Oncology Fellowship Program and also the Head of Haematology/Oncology at the University of Nairobi and Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi. In 2009 and 2010 he was Head of Oncology at AgaKhan University Hospital, Nairobi.
He holds a Master’s Degree in Internal Medicine of the University of Nairobi, completed fellowship in Medical Oncology at the Royal London Hospital (University of London) in 1992, and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.
His research interests are in malignant haematology and breast cancer, in which he has published widely in peer-reviewed journals. He also has keen interest in molecular oncology. He has authored a text book titled DrugTreatment of Haematologic Neoplasms. He has also co-authored cancer booklets, and has written chapters in several books. His latest book titled ‘Shadow in Perpetuity’ by Lambert Publishers was released in December 2019.
Dr. Othieno-Abinya is a member of American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), and served in its International Affairs Committee from 2010-2012; Africa Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC), having been Vice Chair for Eastern Africa and was a long time member of Council; and European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO). He founded Kenya Society of Haematology and Oncology (KESHO), of which he was the first Chair, and is still its Patron. His outstanding academic achievements were profiled in the University of Nairobi magazine,’ Varsity Focus’ of September 2017.
He has received several awards and honours, including Kenya Breast Health Programme Award in appreciation of contribution to success of the Breast Cancer Survivors’ Conference on 11-14 July 2003; Kenya Breast Health Programme Award in recognition for outstanding contribution to the care of women with breast cancer in Kenya; Best Oral Presentation by Established Scientist Award, 2ND KASH Conference, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi; 2018 Harvard Global Health Catalyst: Distinguished African Ambassador Award.
PROF NAZIK HAMMAD
Nazik Hammad is an Associate Professor at the Division of Medical Oncology, Queen’s University, Kingston Health Science Center, Ontario, Canada. She is the Chair of the Education and Training Committee of the African Organization in Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC). Dr. Hammad is a visiting professor at the University of Nairobi, Kenya. She is the co-chair of the Network for Advancing Black Learners (Medical Students and Residents) in Ontario. She is the former Director of Global Health, Faculty of Health Sciences at Queen’s University. She is an executive member of the Global Oncology Program at Queen’s University. She treats GI, breast and brain tumours.
Dr. Hammad has a keen interest in medical education, in particular health professions education in low and –middle-income countries (LMIC) and cancer workforce development. She has a Master degree in Medical Education in the Health Professions (MEHP) from Johns Hopkins University. She teaches regularly at the Clinical Oncology Training Program in Khartoum, Sudan and as a visiting professor at the Medical Oncology Fellowship Training Program, University of Nairobi, Kenya. Her areas of expertise include training program development and evaluation, accreditation, curriculum development, mentoring and innovations in education. Her work on education has been presented at international conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals. She is a recipient of several grants in education including the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada International Development, Aid and Collaboration Grant in 2020 for Faculty Development among African Oncologists.
Her other areas of interest include value in cancer care. Together with colleagues in African she led the first Choosing Wisely Africa that was recently published in the Journal of Global Oncology.
DR PETER OMONDI OYIRO
Peter Oyiro is currently a Lecturer at the Department of Clinical Medicine and Therapeutics, at the University of Nairobi. He also a Consultant Physician and Medical Oncologist at the Kenyatta National Hospital Teaching and Referral Hospital, Nairobi.
Dr Oyiro attended his Research Fellowship in Hematological Malignancies at the West Virginia University Cancer Center (2013) and Medical Oncology fellowship at the University of Nairobi (2018).
He is a member of Kenya Society of Hematology and Oncology (KESHO), American Society of Clinical Oncologist ( ASCO) and the European Society of Medical Oncologists( ESMO).Dr. Oyiro main interest is in Research and cancer education particularly in Hematological Malignancies, HIV associated neoplasms and Sickle cell disease as well as newer cancer targeted therapy and immunotherapy.
PROF MANSOOR SALEH
Mansoor Saleh, MD received his early education in the Aga Khan School system in East Africa, his medical education at the University of Heidelberg in Germany and conducted his doctoral research at the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research in Heidelberg. He received his training in internal medicine at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit Michigan and clinical and translational research training in Hematology & Oncology at the University of Alabama Comprehensive Cancer Center in Birmingham, Alabama where he was tenured Professor of Medicine & Pathology and Director of the First-in-Human Early Drug Development Program.
His area of research and clinical focus is “targeted therapy of cancer”. In January 2020, he joined the Aga Khan University in Nairobi, Kenya as the Founding Chair, Department of Hematology – Oncology and Founding Director – AKU, N Cancer Center.
DR SITNA ALI MWANZI
Sitna Ali Mwanzi is a Consultant Medical Oncologist working at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi. She is the former Chair of the Kenya Society of Haematology and Oncology (KESHO) which is a professional organization whose aim is to reduce the cancer burden and mortality in Kenya through education, research and advocacy initiatives.
Dr Mwanzi attained her Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from the University of Nairobi and Master of Medicine in Internal Medicine from the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi. She undertook a fellowship in Medical Oncology at Barts Health NHS Trust in the United Kingdom attaining a Specialist Certificate in Medical Oncology from the Royal College of Physicians and Association of Cancer Physicians in the United Kingdom. She also has a Master of Science in Advanced Oncology from Ulm University in Germany. She has recently been recognized as a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh (FRCP).
Her research interests include breast cancer, prostate cancer, chronic myeloid leukemia and cervical cancer. She is passionate about increasing health care worker and general public awareness about cancer, role of screening, early diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
Dr. Mwanzi works closely with the National Cancer Control Program in implementation of the National Cancer Control Strategy. She has also been involved in the development of national guidelines for Kenya and harmonization of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines for Sub-Saharan Africa.
PROF WILFRED NG’WA
Wilfred Ngwa is the Director of the Global Health Catalyst at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology at Harvard Medical School. Dr Ng’wa earned a Bachelors degree at the University of Buea Cameroon, graduate degrees at the University of Leipzig Germany, and subsequently postdoctoral and clinical training at Harvard Medical School. He currently leads a Global Health Program with research developing new technologies and approaches to boost cancer cure rates and reduce global health disparities.
This work has been recognized with a number of awards, including the prestigious BWH BRIght Future’s Prize in 2015 (for the project “Tiny Drones to Target Cancer”). Other awards include two “Best in Physics” Awards by the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) and Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists, Research Excellence Awards from the National Cancer Institute and innovation awards from Partners Healthcare, among other awards.
Dr Ngwa’s research is focused on clinical translation of technologies/approaches that can increase access to quality cancer treatment. This includes smart radiotherapy biomaterials (Tiny drones to Target cancer or nanoparticle drones) and PhytoMedicines. The award-winning drone technologies are designed to help eliminate both local and metastatic tumors with minimal collateral damage or side effects. The drones can be employed to sustainably deliver different drug payloads (including immunotherapy/chemotherapy drugs or cannabinoids) precisely to disease sites or targets, with greater therapeutic efficacy. This work leverages the abscopal effect and the biomaterials drone technology in research to significantly increase survival and quality of life for patients.
DR MIRIAM MUTEBI (MODERATOR)
Miriam Mutebi is a Consultant Breast Surgical Oncologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. She is also a clinical epidemiologist and health systems researcher with a research focus on understanding barriers to access for women with cancers in Sub-Saharan Africa and in designing interventions to mitigate those barriers.
Dr Mutebi is the President Elect of the African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC), the Chairperson for the Kenya Society of Hematology and Oncology (KESHO) and on the board of directors of the Union folr International Cancer Control (UICC). She is also the co-founder of the Pan African Women’s Association of Surgeons (PAWAS-www.africanwomensurgeons.org) which was developed to mentor and provide transformative leadership for women in surgery in order to improve surgical care and pathology on the continent and is part of the Kenya Association of Women Surgeons.
She is the Co-chair of the National Cancer Taskforce in Kenya, Chair of the Commonwealth Taskforce for the elimination of Cervical Cancer and a commissioner with three Lancet commissions of Women and cancer, Cancer in sub-Saharan Africa and Breast Cancer. She is currently pursuing a pilot’s licence in order to extend breast care services to marginalised areas.

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Medical Oncologists
Radiation Oncologists
Clinical and Radiation Oncologists
Paediatric Oncologists
Surgical oncologists
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Haematologists
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Oncology nurses
Registrars and fellows specializing in oncology field
Trainee radiation therapists, medical physicists and oncology nurses
Medical officers and general practitioners working in the Oncology field
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