Special episode:  Breast cancer as a global development challenge

Special episode: Breast cancer as a global development challenge

From Devex Podcasts by Devex

April 8, 2026 · 33 min

About this episode

This episode discusses breast cancer as a critical development challenge in low- and middle-income countries and explores the systemic barriers to care.

In this special episode of This Week in Global Development, we explore breast cancer not just as a health challenge, but as a critical development challenge. In low- and middle-income countries, or LMICs, a breast cancer diagnosis can have a devastating ripple effect that extends far beyond the clinic, impacting households, communities, and entire systems. Hosted in partnership with The Pfizer Foundation, Devex Executive Vice President and Executive Editor Kate Warren speaks with Darren Back, Dr. Loice Sitienei, and Dr. Patrick Loehrer to explore why integrated breast cancer care strengthens both health systems and economic resilience, ultimately improving outcomes for women facing this disease. The conversation underscores the systemic barriers to breast cancer care in LMICs, where limited infrastructure and high costs often lead to delays in diagnosis. The Pfizer Foundation's Action and Impact initiative, a philanthropic investment now totaling $25 million across five sub-Saharan African countries, aims to expand access to timely breast cancer diagnosis, treatment, and care. By supporting partners working with local and national governments to advance access to care, the…

People in this episode

Host: Kate Warren

Guests: Darren Back, Dr Patrick Loehrer, Dr Loice Sitienei

Topics covered

  • breast cancer
  • global development
  • health systems
  • economic resilience
  • low- and middle-income countries

Keywords

  • health challenge
  • diagnosis
  • treatment
  • care
  • philanthropic investment

Sponsors

The Pfizer Foundation

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