Africa2U: Highlights of the Harvard Global Health Catalyst Summit 2019

Dr. Wilfred Ngwa (L)

Cancer is the growth of abnormal cells that damage or interfere with the body’s organs. Cancer treatment may include chemotherapy, radiation or surgery, and is often unaffordable, especially to people in low and middle-income countries. It has major impact on society emotionally, financially, physically and environmentally.

Led by Dr. Wilfred Ngwa, the Global Health Catalyst at Harvard Medical School’s Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center and Brigham and Women’s Hospital is dedicated to catalyzing high impact international collaborations and initiatives to eliminate global health disparities, with a main focus on cancer and other non-communicable diseases.

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The GHC hosts an annual summit at Harvard Medical School, with satellite conference in Europe and Africa, and has collaborated with other universities to launch create online educational systems such as Global Oncology University (GO-U) and the Comprehensive Cancer Center in the Cloud (C4) to increase access to world-class cancer care, research and education.

Dr Laurie Glimcher,
President of the Dana–Farber Cancer Institute (R)

With my camera guru- Patrick Snow (L)

This year, the 3-day summit attracted over 400 participants, including medical doctors, global health leaders, advocates, diaspora leaders, sports personalities, and politicians, especially from low and middle income countries, to break down barriers and create sustainable partnerships to impact global health.

Dr. Clare Karekezi
Neurosurgeon- Rwanda Military Hospital

The speakers were from different countries and sectors. They included; Dr Laurie Glimcher - President of the Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, H.E. Dr Brylyne Chitsunge - Pan-African Ambassador for Food Security; Global Health and Phytomedicines chair, Honorable Audley Shaw - Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Jamaica, Dr Ahmed Elzawawy - Professor and Chair of the Harvard GHC win-win, Dr Peter Nyongo' - Governor and former Minister of Health, Kenya, H.E. Carlos dos Santos - Ambassador of Mozambique to the USA, Michael Fitzgerald - The Boston Globe Magazine, Melvin Foote - President of Constituency for Africa, Dr Eduardo Cazap - Professor, President of SLACOM, Past President of the UICC, Hon. Henry Lowe - Executive Chairman- Environmental Health Foundation | R&D Group of Companies and Flavocure Biotech LLC, Dr Dennis Plamer- Dean, Baptist Institute of Health Sciences. Mbingo Baptist Hospital Cameroon, Raymond Dabney-President and CEO of CBIS, Dr. Beatrice Wiafe-Addai-President-elect, African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC), Chief Executive Officer, Peace and Love Hospitals, Ghana, Calvin Johnson- Legendary former NFL player, Dr. Clare Karekezi- Neurosurgeon Rwanda, Dr Rebecca Buecker- Radiation Oncologist, German, Dr James Alaro- Program Director,National Cancer Institute Center for Global Health, Danny Burke- CEO of eCancer, Dr Johannes Schweizer - Chief Science Officer Arbor Vita Corporation and Mrs. Dorothy Nyong’o- Managing Trustee of Africa Cancer Foundation, First Lady Kisumu County, Kenya.

Danny Burke
CEO - eCancer

Pakistani delegation

Over the years, as a result of the summit, MOUs have been signed, a comprehensive cancer center in the cloud ("C4") has been created to be accessed by anyone, works published, and healthcare ambassadors galvanized.