Kenya’s Benda Kithaka, Founder and Executive Director of KILELE Health, has been named the 2024 Rachel Pearline Award recipient by the United States National Cancer Institute Center for Global Health.
This recognition celebrates Kithaka’s exceptional dedication to cancer prevention and control in low- and middle-income countries, particularly her groundbreaking work at KILELE Health.
Dr. Satish Gopal, Director of the Center for Global Health, applauded Kithaka’s commitment to eliminating cervical cancer during the award announcement ceremony in Nairobi, especially her tireless efforts in promoting cancer prevention and early detection, which earned her esteemed recognition.
In an excerpt from his letter to Kithaka, Dr. Gopal highlighted Dr. Pearline’s dedication to global cancer control and her view of medicine as a privilege.
The award underscores the complexities of cancer control in countries where resource limitations are a major obstacle, as he further emphasized on the additional challenges posed by sociocultural beliefs, myths, stigma, and misinformation.
Announcing the award, he expressed confidence on collaborative partnerships like KILELE Health which paves way for a future free of cervical cancer.
Kithaka’s leadership at KILELE Health has been instrumental in pioneering innovative approaches to cancer awareness and patient empowerment.
These approaches include leveraging the power of storytelling and showcasing the resilience and lived experiences of cancer patients and survivors.
“We promote community interventions in support of the WHO Global Call to Elimination of Cervical Cancer as a global public health challenge,” she explained following the announcement of the win.
Through initiatives like the KILELE Challenge, where cancer survivors climb Mount Kenya to symbolize life beyond the disease, Kithaka has brought global attention to the challenges survivors and caregivers face, amplifying their voices.
This annual mountain climbing event also serves as an advocacy platform to catalyze policy action in addressing survivorship in Africa and as a community outreach tool to increase health literacy and encourage the public to embrace and demand cancer prevention services.
Kithaka is the eighth recipient of the Rachel Pearline Award since 2016.
As recognition for her outstanding contributions, she is expected to deliver a keynote address at the award ceremony on May 9th, 2024.
It will be hosted alongside the annual symposium on global cancer research, and as expected, it will be an inspiring celebration of Kithaka’s remarkable impact in the fight against cancer.
A Global Advocate for Change
Beyond KILELE Health, Kithaka is a globally recognized expert in advocacy, technical advising, training, and public speaking.
Her 25+ years of experience encompass communications, health policy, and community engagement.
She has actively contributed to various global, regional, and local technical working groups, providing invaluable insights and guidance in cancer control efforts.
Kithaka is also the co-founder of Women 4 Cancer Early Detection and Treatment, a Kenyan non-governmental organization (NGO) focused on cervical cancer prevention and control across the continuum of care.
The NGO is actively engaged in creating awareness, screening, facilitating navigation for access to treatment for women in rural locations, and policy advocacy aimed at easing access to primary prevention through HPV vaccine and screening.
In an interview with Scholar Media Africa, Kithaka explained that under her stewardship, the non-governmental organization championed the advocacy agenda in Kenya by spearheading the initialization of an MOU with the County First Ladies Association in 2018.
“I eventually left Women 4 Cancer to give me ample time to champion survivorship as a link to prevention in October 2019,” she clarified.
Despite leaving the organization, under her tenure, she saw it lead the establishment of 14 empowerment clinics that address cancer prevention at the county level, coordinating the First National Cervical Cancer Awareness Week in January 2019.
This advocacy has since been adopted by the Ministry of Health in Kenya as a platform for cervical cancer advocacy—National Cervical Cancer Awareness Month—commemorated in January every year.
About the Rachel Pearline Award
Established in 2012, the Rachel Pearline Award recognizes individuals making significant contributions to cancer research, prevention, and treatment in resource-limited settings.
The award honours the legacy of Dr. Rachel Pearline, a distinguished oncologist known for her unwavering commitment to global cancer control.
Each year, it recognizes individuals demonstrating exceptional leadership and innovation in cancer research, practice, and training within low- and middle-income countries.
Coinciding with the annual symposium on global cancer research, it brings together leading experts, researchers, and advocates to address cancer challenges in resource-limited settings.
The event fosters collaborative efforts towards a world free of cancer through keynote presentations, panel discussions, and networking opportunities.
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However, apart from receiving the 2024 Cancer Award, Kithaka has received the following accolades in recognition of her contribution towards cancer elimination:
- Finalist in Zuri Awards 2021, Kenya Network of Cancer Organization Advocate of the Year 2020.
- International Gynecologic Cancer Society Distinguished Advocacy Award 2019.
- Union for International Cancer Control Travel Award to the Regional Consultation on the Elimination of Cervical Cancer in the Africa Region May 2019.
- The American Association of Cancer Education Selma Memorial Travel Scholarship Award 2017 for exceptionally promising work in Global Cancer Education.
- Cancer Ambassador of the Year, 2016 Kenyan Community Award by Eddahs Hope.
Well done Benda, keep it up. Keep the ball rolling until no woman has cervical cancer