On Wednesday 9th September, I had the opportunity to attend the Cervical Cancer Service Delivery Policy Engagement Forum in Makueni County – an eye-opening experience that also gave me a front-row seat to the incredible work of our 2023 Mawazo Fellow, Loise Nthambi.
Loise Nthambi is passionate about ensuring that all Kenyan women have access to affordable cervical cancer screening, no matter where they come from, or what economic bracket they belong to. In 2024, her research made the news for its focus on alternative screening methods for cervical cancer, the second most common cancer found in women in Kenya.
When I first spoke with Loise the morning of her event, her biggest concern was simple yet relatable: “Will the people I invited show up?” By 9:30am, that worry had eased as more than 30 key stakeholders filled the room, including representatives from the County Health Department, oncology services, research, and public investment.
The session unfolded as a candid roundtable, surfacing the barriers that women in Makueni face around cervical cancer awareness, screening, diagnosis, and treatment. One striking concern was that vaccines were expiring in labs due to low uptake from misinformation and community hesitancy. The conversation quickly turned to the need for consistent grassroots outreach; engaging parents, teachers, and community leaders who shape trust and influence.
This was new to me and as such, I realized how policy work can feel slow, even painstaking, but is deeply necessary. These quiet, closed-room conversations anchored by people closest to the issues; lay the foundation for sustainable change. Under Loise’s guidance, every participant in the room made a handwritten commitment, whether to allocate resources, push for budget lines, or carry these discussions into county assembly debates.
For me, it was inspiring to see Loise step into her role with confidence, convening stakeholders and steering the dialogue toward action. And for Mawazo, this moment also marked something new: it’s one of the first times we’ve been present to document and amplify such milestones as part of our growing Policy Department, which spotlights the change our alumni are driving in policy spaces across Africa.
We will continue to follow and update you on Loise’s journey to impact the accessibility of cervical cancer screening in Kenya. More is definitely sure to follow.
To connect with Loise about her work, visit her profile on the Mawazo Connects platform. ”
– Chiama Anita; Digital Communications Associate, Mawazo –
