The Journey of Malawian Women Seeking Cervical Cancer Treatment in Kenya 

On a warm October morning in Nairobi, Chimwemwe Chiduleni stepped off a bus clutching a plastic bag filled with documents, a change of clothes, and a quiet determination to survive.   

Two years after being diagnosed with cervical cancer in Malawi, a country with no radiotherapy services at the time, she had finally arrived in Kenya, a nation rapidly emerging as East Africa’s medical lifeline.   

She was one of dozens of women referred across borders for treatment once considered out of reach. For Chimwemwe and many like her, crossing into Kenya was not just about geography; it was a passage between despair and the possibility of healing.   

As Africa battles stubborn health inequities, Kenya’s new medical tourism initiative is reshaping how Africans seek care and who gets to live. In May 2024, the Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife, Dr. Alfred Mutua, officially announced a comprehensive plan to position Kenya as a leading medical tourism hub in Africa.  

“Kenya is not just open to visitors for tourism. We are also ready to provide quality healthcare to our fellow Africans, offering top-notch hospitals, specialists, and a visa regime that allows easy access for medical services,” he said.  

This development came with an awareness that the ability to travel freely to access healthcare without visa requirements within the continent is essential to fighting diseases like cervical cancer, which require specialized treatment unavailable in some African nations.  

The 2024 Annual Tourism Sector Performance Report showed that Kenya received 10,602 visitors seeking medical treatment. Medical tourism ranked among the top ten reasons for visiting the country, highlighting Kenya’s emerging status as a hub for healthcare services.  

Among these medical tourism visitors was Chimwemwe Chiduleni, a middle-aged mother of two from Malawi, who was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2022. She believed her life was over, just like many others in Malawi.  

The country has the second-highest rate of cervical cancer-related mortality globally, standing at 51.5 deaths per 100,000 women per year, only surpassed by Eswatini, according to Cervical Cancer Statistics and the Cervical Cancer Strategic Plan.  

Malawi did not have radiotherapy services in 2022, leaving women diagnosed with advanced-stage cervical cancer with limited treatment options. Also known as radiation therapy, this medical service, considered the first-line treatment for such cases, was unavailable in the country until February 2025.   

Before then, many patients in Malawi were referred abroad to Kenya, Tanzania, or India, in search of life-saving care. Chimwemwe had to travel to Kenya to access this essential treatment.  

“When I was diagnosed, I was scared,” Chimwemwe said. “But when I heard that I could go to Kenya for treatment, I felt a sense of relief. It is not just about the treatment but about having the chance to live and return to my family.”  

Cervical cancer is largely preventable but remains a major threat to women globally. Most cases are caused by a virus called HPV (Human Papillomavirus), which is passed through sexual contact.  

In Malawi, over 4,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year, accounting for 24% of all cancer cases in the country. Limited access to treatment has contributed to an alarming mortality rate, with 2,905 women losing their lives to the disease in 2020, according to the World Health Organization (WHO)’s Global Cancer Observatory.  

In 2022, cervical cancer was rated among the five most frequent cancers in Malawi, recording 4,701 cases at 37.8% in females. Since 2022, around 50 women from Malawi have been referred to Kenya for radiotherapy.  

For Chimwemwe, this referral added a financial burden to the already stressful diagnosis, especially as a single mother of two with no formal employment. The disease had already disrupted her daily life, making even simple tasks a challenge.  

Luckily, she was among the two women sponsored by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, to travel to Kenya for treatment in 2024.  Chiduleni admits she was happy but nervous about leaving her young children behind.   

“I was a bit worried because I am the first-born daughter, so I’m responsible for supporting the rest of the family,” she shares. “But through the encouragement we gave one another, I overcame my fears and was determined to go and receive treatment.  

“My favorite part of the trip was at the beginning when all the women were strong and happy, singing and dancing together. But as the treatment progressed and some became very unwell, it was hard to maintain that joy.  

“My first night after arriving in Kenya was very good. In fact, this is the first country outside Malawi I’ve ever visited. The program was explained to us in Malawi that we would receive radiotherapy and that they would use a special light to burn the cancer.   

“They also mentioned a pipe that would be inserted into my body. I wasn’t surprised by the treatment. I have noticed a big difference having come this far. The trip taught me many good lessons.   

“I learned how to live with different people and how to handle different types of personalities in Kenya. I will miss the love from the Kenyan people I interacted with, their care, and the different kinds of good food.”  

During her six-week stay at the hospital, she even picked up some basic Kiswahili and a bit of English.  

Chimwemwe first noticed something was wrong two years before she ever went to the doctor. She kept ignoring the symptoms because she thought it was just a minor infection.   

“My condition got worse because I delayed getting screened. I am now committed to spreading cervical cancer awareness in my community and encouraging women to go for early screening. This disease is curable.” 

50-year-old single mother of three, Nessie Kasiyabweya, has also benefited from the trip from Malawi to Kenya.   

“When I was diagnosed with cancer, I was so stressed,” she shared. “I depend on small-scale farming for income. This sickness brought my activities to a standstill.   

“When I was told that I was on the list to go to Kenya for radiotherapy, I told my family. They embraced the good news just as I did. Many women have died prematurely because they never had this privilege.  

“Now that I’m back, I will resume most tasks. All my children rely on me for their school fees and food. I see a bright future once cleared; I will resume irrigation farming like before.”  

Nessie Kasivahweya, a cervical cancer patient from Malawi, receiving radiotherapy treatment at a hospital in Nairobi/MSF  

Since 2018, MSF and the Ministry of Health in Malawi have run a cervical cancer project to provide effective, high-impact care through a comprehensive program that includes screening, consultations, specialized surgery, and palliative care for advanced-stage patients.  

According to Dr. Catherine Karekezi, Executive Director of the Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Alliance Kenya, Kenya’s hospitals are relatively better equipped to offer treatment for cervical and other cancers compared to many countries in the region.  

“We currently have around six radiotherapy units spread across the country. This gives us a significant advantage when it comes to managing cancer care.”  

However, Dr. Karekezi acknowledges the emotional and financial burden faced by patients who have to leave their home countries to seek treatment. “It’s a huge challenge. Cancer is a chronic, life-threatening condition, and living with it is already mentally and emotionally taxing.”  

The experiences of Chimwemwe and Nessie highlight the broader implications of migration for women. Access to treatment can be life-changing, offering women the opportunity to regain control over their livelihoods, families, and futures.  

In a continent where women often face additional healthcare barriers, programs like what MSF offers in Malawi help physical healing but also restore dignity for the average African woman. 

As more African countries open their borders for medical tourism, women are given a fighting chance to overcome diseases that would otherwise have no cure in their home countries, at a manageable cost.  

“Establishing cancer treatment centers is expensive, but it’s necessary. Cervical cancer is one of the few cancers that can be cured if detected early,” adds Karekezi. “That is why we must invest more in awareness, encourage regular screening, and educate women about the signs and symptoms so they don’t ignore warning signs and can seek timely treatment.”  

Sylvie Goossens, former MSF project coordinator for cervical cancer in Malawi, emphasizes that the program is a lifeline for many: “Without this system, many women would not have access to the treatment they need. It’s not just about radiotherapy; it’s about giving women a chance to survive.”  

Dr. George Chilinda, MSF’s surgical oncologist at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, also stresses the importance of expanding cervical cancer treatment across the region.  

Dr. George Chilinda, MSF surgical oncologist at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Malawi/MSF  

“The HPV vaccine and screening are vital, but without treatment, many patients will die from this preventable disease,” shares Dr Chilinda. “This initiative demonstrates the power of collaboration across African borders and emphasizes the need to scale up healthcare efforts so that no woman has to leave her country to survive.”  

When Chimwemwe finally boarded the bus back to Malawi, her body was weaker, but her spirit was steadier. In her bag were discharge papers, a few leftover pills, and a small notebook where she’d scribbled Kiswahili phrases and the names of nurses who had held her hand through the worst days. What she carried home, above all, was knowledge that survival is possible when borders open and systems work.   

As cancer care quietly becomes a cross-border act of solidarity, it’s no longer just doctors or machines saving lives, but the invisible architecture of access, policy, and political will. For many women across Africa, the road to healing may still be long, but it no longer has to be out of reach.  

In February 2025, cancer survivors in Malawi got relief from travelling when the Malawi National Cancer Centre (MNCC) at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe began offering radiotherapy services.  

Experience the full journey. Watch the documentary below to see how cross-border cancer care is rewriting what’s possible for women across Africa: 

 This content is produced as part of the Move Africa project, commissioned by the African Union Commission and supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the GIZ or the African Union.

This story was originally published by African Women in Media (AWiM) and is shared here with permission.
Click here to read the original article

Author:  Lenah Bosibori