Global CRC Leadership Awards

She is the Head of Department of the South African National Cancer Registry (NCR) at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), part of the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS). She also chairs the South African Ministerial Advisory Committee on Cancer Prevention and Control and leads the International Agency for Research on Cancer’s (IARC) Global Initiative for Cancer Registry Development (GICR) Centre of Expertise in Johannesburg, within the African Cancer Registry Network.

With more than 14 years of experience in cancer surveillance and epidemiological research, Dr. Muchengeti focuses on HIV-associated cancers, cervical cancer, and population-based cancer registration in African populations. Her work helps build the evidence needed to understand cancer burden, identify public health priorities, and inform effective cancer prevention and control strategies.

Her research has direct policy relevance in South Africa, informing national cancer prevention strategies and helping translate epidemiological evidence into public health action. As a co-Principal Investigator of the South African HIV Cancer Match (SAM) Study and the South African Cervical Cancer Screening (SACCS) cohort, she also contributes to research that strengthens understanding of cancer risk, screening, and outcomes in South African populations.

Beyond her research, Dr. Muchengeti plays a critical role in strengthening cancer registration capacity across Africa. Through her leadership of the IARC-GICR Centre of Expertise in Johannesburg, she supports the development of population-based cancer registries, which are essential for producing reliable data to guide policy, allocate resources, and monitor progress in cancer control. Her work highlights the importance of strong cancer information systems in helping countries make evidence-based decisions and address gaps in cancer care.

Dr. Muchengeti is also a Research Associate at the South African Centre for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis (SACEMA) at Stellenbosch University. She has published more than 60 peer-reviewed articles and serves on several national and international advisory committees, bringing scientific expertise to discussions and decisions that shape cancer policy.

Through her research, national leadership, and commitment to building cancer data capacity across the continent, Dr. Muchengeti demonstrates how evidence, collaboration, and public health leadership can drive meaningful progress against cancer.

Drawing on her own experiences navigating cancer and life with an ostomy, Ms. Kwenda has transformed personal challenges into a powerful platform for community action. Through KOA, she champions access to essential ostomy supplies, psychosocial support, early detection, survivorship care, and stronger patient representation in health policy. Her leadership is grounded in the belief that people with lived experience must have a meaningful role in shaping the care and policies that affect their lives.

Under her leadership, KOA has reached more than 1,250 colorectal cancer patients and ostomates across eight Kenyan counties and trained 45 survivors and ostomates in digital advocacy. Through initiatives such as the #EndColorectalCancerKe campaign, Ms. Kwenda has mobilized survivor voices, raised awareness of colorectal cancer, and helped bring greater attention to the challenges patients face during treatment and beyond.

One of the most immediate and essential parts of her work is helping people access ostomy supplies. In Kenya, the cost and limited availability of colostomy bags can create significant financial and practical barriers for patients. Ms. Kwenda works to source and distribute donated supplies to people who cannot afford them, while teaching patients how to use and manage their ostomies safely. She also visits patients in hospitals and at home, supports caregivers with practical education, and provides emotional guidance to people adjusting to life after surgery.

The impact of this work is reflected in the experiences of the people she supports. Patients describe receiving essential supplies when they had nowhere else to turn, learning how to care for their ostomies, and finding the encouragement they needed to face an uncertain future. Caregivers have shared how Ms. Kwenda helped them navigate the fear, emotional strain, and practical responsibilities of caring for a loved one with colorectal cancer. Through her support, people who once felt isolated have found connection, confidence, and a community that understands their experiences.

Ms. Kwenda is equally committed to challenging the stigma surrounding colorectal cancer and ostomy care. By sharing her own lived experience, she helps make conversations about cancer, bowel surgery, and life with a stoma more visible and open. Through KOA’s support networks, educational meetings, community engagement, and awareness campaigns, she brings patients and survivors together, helps families better understand care, and encourages people to seek screening and treatment. Her work helps ensure that people living with an ostomy are seen, supported, and treated with dignity.

Her advocacy also extends to research and health policy. As a co-investigator on the CARE-CRC study, Ms. Kwenda has helped bring patient and caregiver perspectives into research examining colorectal cancer care and survivorship in Kenya. She has advocated for more affordable cancer treatment and ostomy supplies, better recognition of ostomy-related needs in health coverage and public policy, and health systems that respond to the realities of patients’ lives. She is also a representative of the NCD Alliance’s Our View, Our Voices initiative and has shared her lived experience on international platforms to advocate for more inclusive, patient-centered health systems.

What distinguishes Ms. Kwenda’s leadership is the way she connects advocacy with direct, practical support. She does not simply raise awareness of the challenges facing colorectal cancer patients; she works alongside patients and families to help address them. From finding essential supplies and educating caregivers to mobilizing survivors and bringing patient voices into research and policy discussions, she is helping close gaps in care while building a stronger, more connected community.

Drawing on his experience as a cancer patient’s caregiver, Mr. Han established China’s first community-led, complimentary online multidisciplinary team (MDT) program for gastrointestinal cancer patients. The program provides a sustainable monthly platform where volunteer colorectal surgeons, medical oncologists, radiologists, and patient advocates come together to review patient cases and offer expert perspectives. By connecting patients with specialists regardless of their geographic location or financial circumstances, the initiative addresses significant gaps in access to multidisciplinary care, particularly for those outside major medical centers or without access to hospital-based MDT services.

Mr. Han’s work goes beyond connecting patients with medical expertise. Through standardized case preparation processes, volunteer support systems, and educational MDT sessions, the program helps patients and caregivers better understand their diagnoses, explore treatment options, and participate more actively in clinical decision-making. This patient-centered approach empowers families to navigate complex cancer care with greater knowledge and confidence.

The initiative also demonstrates the value of strong partnerships between patient advocates and healthcare professionals. By fostering collaboration among clinicians, volunteers, and the patient community, Mr. Han has built a model that complements existing healthcare services, strengthens trust, and promotes multidisciplinary, evidence-based care.

With a master’s degree in electronic engineering from Tsinghua University and a career as a Senior Engineer in Communications and Artificial Intelligence, Mr. Han brings a distinctive technical perspective to his advocacy work. He also serves as a Committee Member of the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association’s Colorectal Cancer Integrated Rehabilitation Committee and is a health education writer dedicated to helping patients and families better understand cancer care.

Through Panda and Friends, Mr. Han is demonstrating how digital technology, volunteer expertise, and community engagement can work together to reduce disparities and expand access to patient-centered cancer care. His initiative offers a scalable, adaptable model that other patient organizations and healthcare systems could use to strengthen multidisciplinary care and patient engagement.