A.Catalyst & Cancer Care Africa: Propelling Early Cancer Detection in Addis

Addis Ababa, 26 June 2025 – Today marks the launch of a transformative initiative aimed at tackling one of Ethiopia’s most critical healthcare challenges: the late-stage diagnosis of breast and prostate cancer. In Ethiopia, 67% of cancer cases are detected at advanced stages, significantly reducing survival rates and placing immense pressure on the health system. Early detection remains a major hurdle to improving patient outcomes.

Powered by AstraZeneca’s A.Catalyst Network—through the Africa Health Innovation Hub and its overarching Cancer Care Africa program—this initiative demonstrates the impact of scalable digital innovation starting at the community level, with the potential to strengthen health systems across Africa. AstraZeneca, Spirit Health Foundation, and Global Health Partnerships have come together in this landmark collaboration to bring earlier detection and smarter, more accessible cancer care to local communities at the heart of Ethiopia.

 “This is the future of cancer care in Africa—community-driven, digitally enabled, and locally led,” said Mr. Deepak Arora, Country President for AstraZeneca African Cluster, during his keynote address. ” This program, a vital part of our Cancer Care Africa efforts, puts the power of early detection in the hands of those to those who need them most.. We believe innovation should be inclusive.”

The official launch event in Addis Ababa brought together senior representatives from the Federal Ministry of Health, the Addis Ababa Health Bureau, and the Ethiopian Society of Hematology and Oncology, alongside our international partners. This gathering provided a crucial opportunity for key local stakeholders to voice their support and share their insights on overcoming Ethiopia’s cancer care challenges.  Discussions focused on the transformative potential of community-driven digital solutions to bridge essential gaps in care.

The discussions at the launch event underscored the profound significance of public awareness and the pivotal role of early diagnosis in addressing the challenges posed by cancers such as prostate and breast cancer.

At the heart of this program is Clinitouch, a community-based digital health platform provided by Spirit Health Foundation. Deployed at Primary Health Centres and by Health Extension Workers (HEWs), Clinitouch is an innovative solution designed for seamless integration into Ethiopia’s national primary care workflows. It enables offline data collection, automated risk scoring, and rapid patient referrals for breast and prostate cancer, empowering frontline health workers with real-time decision support to identify and refer at-risk individuals efficiently. This ensures that even remote and underserved communities can benefit from timely, coordinated cancer care.

Meron Hailiye, a Health Extension Worker from Woreda 5 who participated in the launch and will be using Clinitouch, expressed her enthusiasm about the technology’s real-world impact: “With this program, we’re not just raising awareness—we’re beginning to change the story. Before, we didn’t know who was at risk, but now we have hope that cancer care can reach beyond the city. This gives our communities new possibilities.”In addition, new training materials will equip health workers and Cancer Support Champions to deliver education and screening in five pilot communities, laying the groundwork for a truly decentralized, scalable, and sustainable model of cancer care. This empowerment of local teams is key to success.

As Dr. Yoseph Mamo, Country Director for Global Health Partnerships in Ethiopia, shared: “For years, early cancer detection felt out of reach in rural Ethiopia. Now, we’re giving health workers who know their communities the power to intervene earlier, faster, and smarter.”

Reflecting on the broader impact of such digital tools, Rich Bryson, Chief Executive Officer of Spirit Health Foundation, added: “Digital doesn’t just mean new tech. It means a new way of delivering health equity and care for everyone. We’re proud to co-create smarter healthcare solutions with leaders committed to improving and saving lives in communities in all corners of the globe.”

The collaboration between the Ethiopian Ministry of Health, AstraZeneca, Global Health Partnerships, and Spirit Health Foundation marks a significant public commitment to advancing innovation in cancer care and strengthening local health systems.

Following the event, participants visited Woreda 5 Health Centre, one of five pilot sites, where they observed the early stages of hands-on training for HEWs, bringing digital cancer screening to life in their own communities.

The visit highlighted the enthusiasm of frontline staff and the practical application of digital tools in community settings.

• AstraZeneca supports this cancer care initiative through its Cancer Care Africa programme and the Catalyst Network, Africa Health Innovation Hub. Cancer Care Africa was launched at COP27 in 2022, representing AstraZeneca’s commitment to strengthening the cancer care ecosystem in Africa. The programme is grounded in four strategic pillars: building healthcare capacity, enhancing diagnostics, empowering patients, and increasing access to medicines. In 2023, AstraZeneca launched the Africa Health Innovation Hub, to support the continent’s health priorities through science, digital innovation and strategic partnerships.
• Global Health Partnerships (formerly THET) has worked in Ethiopia since the early 1990s. For this initiative, GHP is leading on health worker training, community engagement, and coordination with national and regional stakeholders to ensure sustainability and alignment with local health priorities.
• Spirit Health Foundation provides the Clinitouch digital health platform and leads on its technical implementation. The Foundation also supports the design, training, and integration of the technology to help health workers deliver community-based cancer screening and referral services.

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• For further information on AstraZeneca A.Catalyst Network, please contact ted.huang1@astrazeneca.com or visit our website: www.astrazeneca.com/partnering/a-catalyst-network.html
• For further information on Spirit Health Foundation, please contact hello@spirithealthfoundation.org or visit our website: www.spirithealthfoundation.org
• For further information on Global Health Partnerships, please contact sophie.marsden@thet.org or visit our website: https://www.globalhealthpartnerships.org/