Council Members

Rose Ihuoma Anorlu MBChB, FMCOG, FRCOG, FWACS, MPH, has been working in Nigeria throughout her career in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. She is currently a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Lagos and a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Lagos, Nigeria. She was the head of Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology of the two institutions (2015-2018) and heads the Oncology and Pathological Studies Unit.
She had her MBChB from University of Ghana and MPH from University of Lagos and her postgraduate training in obstetrics and gynaecology at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria, and the Birmingham Maternity Hospital/ Birmingham and Midlands Hospital for Women, UK.
She was appointed Lecturer I in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in University of Lagos in 1994 and has been active in teaching, research and service delivery since then. She has many publications on cervical cancer prevention, her area of interest, in peer reviewed journals and chapters in textbooks. She has supervised to date about 24 dissertations for fellowship examinations of the Nigeria Postgraduate Medical College and West African College of Surgeons. She is an examiner for these two colleges.

Dr. Miriam Mutebi is a Consultant Breast Surgical Oncologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. She is also a clinical epidemiologist and health systems researcher with a research focus on understanding barriers to access for women with cancers in Sub-Saharan Africa and in designing interventions to mitigate those barriers.

She is the Vice-President of East Africa of the African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC), a member of the education and training committee for AORTIC and the Chairperson for the Kenya Society of Hematology and Oncology (KESHO) and on the board of directors of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC). She is also the co-founder of the Pan African Women’s Association of Surgeons (PAWAS -www.africanwomensurgeons.org) and is part of the Kenya Association of Women Surgeons.

She is the Co-chair of the National Cancer Taskforce in Kenya, Chair of the Commonwealth Taskforce for the elimination of Cervical Cancer and a commissioner with three Lancet commissions of Women and cancer, Cancer in sub-Saharan Africa and Breast Cancer. She heads the African cancer survivorship working group that is dedicated to developing continental research that reflects patient reported outcomes and quality of life and has developed and helped implement both local and regional cancer policy. As a systems researcher, her focus is on bridging access gaps e.g. through education of healthcare workers on CBE, training cancer advocates (Kenya, South Africa) and in addressing diagnostic gaps by improving pre-analytical handling of cancer specimens

Her drive to connect and build continental communities of practice has led to the successful development and running of recurrent international multidisciplinary cancer symposiums that bring together AORTIC and other key players and to surgical oncology and pathology preceptorships. Her recent efforts have resulted in research mentorship program for African female surgeons interested in oncology research.

Dr Bello Abubakar, MD is the immediate past Head of the Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology at the National Hospital Abuja in Nigeria, where he has served as a clinical oncology consultant and radiation oncologist for almost 15 years.
Dr Bello earned his medical degree from the Medical University of Varna in Bulgaria. He completed his training at the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria in the faculty of Radiology, focusing in radiotherapy and Clinical Oncology. He is board certified in Clinical Oncology and Radiation oncology.
Dr Bello has special interest in Breast, Prostate, and Colorectal Cancers, and AIDS-related malignancies. He has special expertise in chemotherapy, targeted therapies, and immunotherapies. He also specializes in radiotherapy using the most advanced treatment planning systems, such as Monaco and Eclipse for conformal radiotherapy such as IMRT, IGRT and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and many more.
Additionally, Dr Bello is an experienced administrator. In his past roles, Dr Bello utilizes keen analysis and a team-based approach to drive organizational improvements and implementation of best clinical practices. He has been an AORTIC member since 2008. He is a member of the African Cancer Coalition and has contributed to the development of the NCCN Harmonized Guidelines for Sub-Saharan Africa for Prostate, Colon, Rectal, Anal Cancers as well as many other cancers.

Verna Delaenam Naa Kwadua Vanderpuye is a Radiation and Clinical Oncologist at the National Radiotherapy and Nuclear medicine Centre. Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. Accra GHANA W AFRICA. Hobbies; Gardening succulents and orchids.

Completed medical training in Ghana, 1990. Awarded an IAEA international fellowship in radiation oncology at the Howard University Hospital Washington DC USA, completing 1999. Awarded a UICC/ACS fellowship for further medical oncology training at the University of Chicago Hospitals completing in 2003.

Special interest is developing cost effective and sustainable cancer management options in lower income settings. Was the immediate past Faculty Chair of Radiotherapy and oncology/ Radiology faculty of the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, 2012- 2017 and currently Secretary Treasurer for the African Organization for Research and Training in cancer, WHO expert on cancer for my country.

Past and current committee appointments include regional representative for European Society of Medical Oncology, International affairs and other committees of ASCO, several WHO committees, UICC fellowship committee.
I am currently mentoring many young African cancer specialist including Nurses.

Authored and coauthored thirty five peer reviewed articles, contributed to 5 technical documents and ten book chapters, and over twenty five conference presentations/ speaking assignments at national and international cancer conference

Dr. Nwamaka Lasebikan is a clinical and radiation oncologist and clinical investigator in Radiation and Clinical Oncology at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu, Nigeria. Dr. Lasebikan completed her medical degree at University of Nigeria Nsukka and went on to pursue her residency at University College Hospital Ibadan, Nigeria and is rounding up her Masters programme in Clinical epidemiology at the Instituite of Public Health University of Nigeria Nsukka. She is a fellow of the National Postgraduate medical college of Nigeria and an associate fellow of the West African College of Surgeons. She is the current Director of Oncology at UNTH and Chair of the African Cancer and Research ECHO. Dr Lasebikan is the National President of ARCON- Association of Radiation and Clinical Oncologist of Nigeria, a member of AORTIC Research Committee and the Co-chair for AORTIC Implementation science special interest group . In the course of her career, she has performed high level clinical and research activities and is currently the National coordinator of a tripartite collaborative effort of research mentoring for Nigerian residents in clinical and radiation oncology. She is a recipient of numerous awards and scholarships amongst which is the African Cancer Leadership Institute by AORTIC and is an IAEA fellow. Her research focus is on female malignancies- breast/cervical cancer, GI malignancies, implementation science, health systems strengthening and global oncology.

Dr. Hannah Ayettey Anie, a graduate of the University of Ghana Medical School, is a Senior Specialist Radiation/Clinical Oncologist at the National Radiotherapy Oncology and Nuclear Medicine Centre (NRONMC) at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. She is a Fellow of the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons where she is currently Secretary of the Faculty of Radiology/ Oncology and Radiotherapy. She is Training Coordinator of the fellowship residency program at the NRONMC and Project Coordinator on the IAEA RAF 0655 TC Project. Additionally, Hannah is a member of the African Cancer Coalition working on harmonization of the NCCN guidelines for Sub-Saharan Africa. Her administrative experience has been enhanced through leadership and health administration courses at the University of Washington and at GIMPA, Ghana. Her research interests are in Breast Cancer, Genomics, and Precision Oncology. Having enrolled in research and palliative care training programs, she assisted Dr Joe Harford of the NCI to successfully organize a Palliative Care stakeholder meeting and skills workshop in Ghana. She is an affiliate member of international oncology organizations including, AORTIC, ESMO, ASCO and ESTRO. A member of AORTIC since 2013, Hannah was one of the first to be enrolled in the ACLI program to mentor young and promising leaders for the organization. Currently, she is a member of the AORTIC Research Committee. In 2020 and 2021, she chaired the Planning Committee for the first Virtual Cancer Genomics Conference in Africa organized by AORTIC. She is the Vice President of the Breast Society of Ghana.

Prof Dafalla Omer Abuidris Elmustafa
Dean for the National Cancer Institute, University of Gezira.
full professor of clinical oncology, university of Gezira
X- Director General for Khartoum oncology hospital (RICK).
General Director of Sudan national oncology center, Federal ministry of Health.
president of Sudanese medical specialization board for oncology.
Supervisor for postgraduate studies, faculty of medicine (MD in general surgery), faculty of medical laboratory (MSc), faculty of applied medical sciences (MSc).
External examiner for Sudanese medical specialization board.2012-2018.
Reviewer for JCO global oncology. Saudi Medical Journal, Cancer Therapy Journal, Gezira Journal of Health Sciences and E – cancer.
Publish a lot of paper in peer-review journal.

Florence Manjuh, a Cameroonian from the North West Region of the country. She holds a holder of a Bachelor Degree in Nursing from the University of Buea Cameroon and have been working with the Women’s Health Program (WHP) of the Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services (CBCHS) since 2007. The WHP is a comprehensive program with four components, which are cervical cancer prevention, breast cancer screening, syndromic management of reproductive tract infections and family planning. She has been the WHP Supervisor from August 2016 to date and also serve as the Cameroon focal point for the cervical cancer Project ECHO (a project that helps connect frontline providers to experts in cervical cancer care).

For the past five years she has served as a supervisor for the largest cancer prevention program in Cameroon where we carry out cervical cancer prevention services and early detection of breast cancers in both facility and outreach programs to the rural communities and the hard to reach areas. Through this strategy the program has screened over 120,000 women for breast and cervical cancer screening.

Her research interests are in Public Health research and advocacy and have been a co-author in eight peer review journal articles.

Dr. Zipporah Ali is a palliative care physician and advocate. Dr Ali is also a public health expert. She is the current chair of the Non-Communicable Disease Alliance of Kenya (NCDAK). She served as the Executive Director of Kenya Hospices and Palliative Care Association (KEHPCA) for 15 years. She previously worked with Nairobi Hospice as the Senior Medical Director. She sits on boards of the Kenya Network of Cancer organizations (KENCO), City Cancer Challenge, Alzheimer/Dementia-Kenya and Public Health and Palliative Care International (PHPCI) and is an active member of the Kenya Society of Hematology and Oncology (KESHO) and Chairs the KESHO cancer community outreach sub-committee. She is passionate about empowerment of Civil Societies, Patient Lead organizations & Persons Living with NCDs. She has been instrumental in palliative care advocacy in Kenya and beyond and has advocated for palliative care to be fully integrated in the Kenya Health System and education of HCPs. She has also been involved in advocacy for Universal Health Cover (UHC). She is a strong advocate of cancer prevention, access to quality cancer care for all and cancer research.
Awards in recognition of her work nationally and globally:
• Doctor of Law Honoris Causa-University of Dundee (2018)
• International Humanitarian Award-Women4Africa (2018)
• Social Impact Award for the Sub-Saharan Africa region-British Council (2018)
• Honorary Doctor of the University by Oxford Brookes University (2012)
• Individual Advocacy Award by the African Palliative Care Association and Open Society Foundations (2013
• African Palliative Care Award –(In recognition for being on the interim board and later serving on the board)

Prof. Olusegun Isaac Alatise has been a Professor of Surgery at the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University and a Consultant, General Surgeon, at the Teaching Hospital. His area of interest is in Surgical Oncology and Gastroenterology. He had his Surgical Oncology training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA. He has also had other training fellowships in Endoscopy and Colorectal Surgery sponsored by the World Gastroenterology Organization, African Middle East Association of Gastroenterology and Endoscopy, and the International Council of Coloproctology. He has attended many national and international meetings as a resource person, and he is a member of many national and international organizations in his area of interest. He is a leader and a trainer in Oncology and Gastroenterology in Nigeria. He co-chair the AORTIC SIG in Clinical trial.

He co-founded the African Research Group for Oncology (ARGO) in 2013. The group runs a clinical database and biobank for colorectal and breast cancer. He is a member of the Lancet Oncology Commission on Global Cancer Surgery. He is also a Co-PI on multiple prospective studies on colorectal and breast cancer in Nigeria, including a UG3/UH3 NIH grant (awarded in 2017) and R01 as well as Cancer Prevent grant awarded in 2020. His team got the Oak Foundation award in 2021. He has trained over 30 General Surgeons many interested in Surgical Oncology and have taken faculty positions in Nigeria. He has over 120 publications in peer-reviewed journals and 5 chapters.

Dr. Ntokozo Ndlovu is a Clinical/Radiation Oncologist and Clinical Epidemiologist with the University of Zimbabwe Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (UZ-FMHS), where she is Chairperson of the Department of Oncology. She has over 25 years’ experience in academia, coordinating the postgraduate training programme for clinical oncologists in Zimbabwe. She also has extensive knowledge in administration of a Radiotherapy facility from the largest cancer facility in Zimbabwe.

Regionally, she has contributed to several International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) African Radiotherapy Projects as Project Scientific Consultant 2008 to 2019 and has served as President of the African Radiation Oncology Group. She is member of the African Cancer Coalition. She has served in several roles in AORTIC and is currently a member of the Education and Training Committee.

As a renowned researcher, Dr Ndlovu has been mentor to many young cancer researchers and contributed to developing institutional research capacity. She chairs the Non-communicable Diseases Research Group in her institution and is the International Vice Chair for the AIDS Malignancy Consortium (AMC) Solid Tumor Working Group, USA.

Nationally, she is a strong cancer advocate and has chaired the development of the National Cancer Prevention and Control Strategy and the Technical Working Group for the revision of Oncology in Zimbabwe National Cancer Treatment Guidelines. She is the Vice Chairperson of the Executive Committee for the National Cancer Registry Advisory Committee. She is well published in international peer reviewed journals.

Dr Cardoso is the Director of the Breast Unit of the Champalimaud Clinical Center (CCC) in Lisbon, Portugal. She is board certified in medical oncology and internal medicine . She earned her medical degree at the University of Porto in Portugal and completed fellowships in the Translational Research Unit of the Jules Bordet Institute (IJB) in Brussels, Belgium, and the Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. She then worked for 10 years as Assistant Professor at the Medical Oncology Clinic of the IJB . She returned to Portugal in October 2010 to create the Breast Unit of the CCC, leading it to become the 1st certified Breast Unit in Portugal. Her research interests include biology of breast cancer, prognostic and predictive markers of response to systemic therapy, and new anticancer agents. She is actively involved in many phase I­ IV breast cancer clinical trials. Dr Cardoso is also deeply involved in the field of cancer policy, accessibility and inequalities, and is the founder and President of the Advanced Breast Cancer (ABC) Global Alliance, as well as the founder and chair of the ABC International Consensus Guidelines Conf erence . She is also active in numerous professional organizations such as ESO, ESMO, EORTC, ASCO, and AACR where she serves on several commit t ees. She has received several educational and research grants and was awarded the prestigious Order of Santiago da Espada for Scientific Merit, from the President of Portugal, on June 10th 2015. She has also received the Flims Alumni Club (FAC) Lifetime Achievement Award 2011; the Prix Nice – St Paul 2017; the Reach to Recovery International Health Professional Award 2019; the ABC Award 2019 , the Jin Xian-zhai Special Achievement Award, the 2020 European Breast Cancer Science Award – Emmanuel van der Schueren Lecture, and the 2021 Umberto Veronesi Memorial Award. Dr Cardoso has authored about 350 publications and has presented her work nationally and internationally.

Dr T. Peter Kingham obtained his undergraduate degree at Yale University and MD from SUNY Stony Brook Medical School. His general surgery residency was at New York University. He undertook a research fellowship in hepatic immunology in the DeMatteo Laboratory at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. After finishing residency, he completed a two-year fellowship in surgical oncology at MSK prior to being appointed on the Hepatopancreatobiliary Service. He is Director of the International Surgical Oncology Fellowiship and the Global Oncology Fellowship. In 2015 he was appointed as Director of Global Cancer Disparity Initiatives. In 2016 he was promoted to Associate Professor. His primary research interest is determining how to improve cancer care for patients in low- and middle-income countries and colorecal cancer liver metastasis management.

Dr. Kingham is co-PI on multiple prospective studies in Nigeria, co-founded the African Research Group for Oncology (ARGO), and is President of surgeons OverSeaS (SOS). He is PI of a UG3/UH3 and R01 NIH grants focused on colorectal cancer in Nigeria. He co-founder of a one year long cancer research training course in Nigeria. He has mentored over 30 physicians from sub-Saharan Africa focused on cancer research and training. He is member of the AORTIC Research Committee. He has over 220 publications in peer-reviewed journals and authored 18 chapters.

Beatrice Ohaeri holds a doctorate degree in Nursing (Medical-Surgical) and has 11 years of hospital based practice and 26 years of teaching experience at local and international level. Currently, a Reader and the Acting Head of Department of Nursing , University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Her research interest is Psycho-oncology and Women’s health.

Cancer is a global health problem that requires total nursing care. Her studies assessed the needs of cancer clients, especially women living with breast cancer, in urban and suburban regions of Nigeria. Clients were filled with psychosocial concerns that affected their acceptance, adjustment and coping with the diseases and generated psychic distress. Gaps were identified on the amount and quality of information given by health workers, which translated into more emphasis on incorporating psychosocial site specific skills into the main stream of care. With the increase in the incidence of prostate cancer globally, especially among men of black descent, papers, she has investigated their knowledge and attitude towards the ailment and its management. The studies revealed poor knowledge, attitude and low perception of self-vulnerability, which calls for more attention, awareness from stake holders. The importance of early screening measures on reduction of female gynaecological conditions cannot be overemphasized. The climax of her work in psycho-oncology, was demonstrated as she engaged in initiating and developing a psycho-oncology unit attached to the famous cancer hospital.

She has mentored undergraduate and post graduate students in research activities related to Psycho-oncology and women’s health.

Place of Birth: Santo Amaro – Tarrafal Santiago, Cape- Verde
Nationality: Capeverdien
Graduated in Medicine from the University of HAVANA
Boa Vista Health Delegate and general Pratitioner.
Specialized in clinical Oncology
Oncology Service Director at the Dr Agostinho Neto University Hospital.
Member of the Board of Directors at Dr Agostinho Neto University Hospital.
Vice President of the Supervisory Board of the Medical Association of Cape Verde.
AORTIC member.
Member of the education and training committee of Aortic 2020 -2021.
Oncology commission coordinating chair at the Dr Agostinho Neto University Hospital.