In Mombasa, Kenya, a team of three visionary surgeons, Dr. Omar Ngotho, Dr. Abubakar Swaleh, and Dr. Mwanabule Ahmed, collectively known as Surgeons001, are redefining breast cancer care and advocacy.
United by a shared purpose, they combine surgical precision, compassion, and community engagement to bring hope and healing to patients.
In this feature, the Surgeons001 team shares powerful insights into how they are driving breast cancer awareness, advancing surgical oncology, and transforming the narrative of cancer care along Kenya’s coast.
Surgeons001 was born out of a shared vision among three surgeons to make specialized surgical care more accessible and culturally sensitive to the people of Kenya’s Coast region. At different points in their medical practice, each of them had observed how patients struggled to access timely interventions for conditions such as breast cancer, hindered by delays in diagnosis, cultural taboos, limited awareness, financial challenges, and logistical barriers.
What began as informal collaborations and consultations gradually evolved into a structured partnership, where they operated together, managed patients jointly, and mentored younger colleagues. Over time, they recognized that uniting under one collective identity would help break many of the clinical, logistical, and cultural barriers that had long limited access to care.
For nearly five years now, they have built an integrated space where general surgeons, surgical oncologists, medical oncologists, and other specialists work hand in hand. Their patient-centered approach ensures that women no longer have to wait weeks to see multiple specialists across different hospitals. Surgeons001 continues to champion cost-effective, multidisciplinary cancer care, by their people, for their people.
Dr. Omar Ngotho’s Mission to Redefine Cancer Care
For Dr. Omar Ngotho, breast cancer care is more than surgical precision, it’s about combining clinical excellence with mentorship and advocacy. As the senior surgeon in Surgeons001, he brings specialized training in breast cancer from Alexandria University in Egypt and years of experience in surgical oncology.
“My contribution is twofold: clinical excellence and mentorship. I guide my younger colleagues and perform advanced laparoscopic procedures to offer patients safer, minimally invasive options,” says Dr. Ngotho.
He has observed that one of the greatest challenges in Kenya is late presentation, often fueled by myths, fear, stigma, or reliance on traditional remedies. “I recall one patient who hid her lump for a whole year, fearing mastectomy,” he shares. To address this, Surgeons001 has intensified early screening campaigns, partnering with local media, institutions, and community networks. By educating patients about the disease, they reduce fear and encourage timely action.
Beyond the operating room, Dr. Ngotho actively engages in breast cancer advocacy through multiple platforms, from medical and spiritual forums to radio shows and sporting events. He explains:
“We’ve turned some of our patients into health ambassadors, making the message more relatable. When it comes from someone familiar, it sticks.”
The team also produced the award-winning documentary “The Pink Champions”, telling the stories of four breast cancer warriors from Mombasa and Kilifi Counties.
Screened across several counties and officially selected at the Kenya Reel Film Festival, the documentary raises awareness and inspires action. Alongside partners, Surgeons001 hosts free breast cancer screening camps and runs online campaigns, particularly every October, reinforcing the importance of early detection.
Through this combination of surgical skill, mentorship, and community engagement, Dr. Ngotho exemplifies Surgeons001’s mission: accessible, compassionate, and transformative breast cancer care.
Dr. Abubakar Swaleh: Driving Change Through Education and Innovation
For Dr. Abubakar Swaleh, the drive behind his breast cancer advocacy comes from a human understanding of the challenges patients face. Growing up in Mombasa, he witnessed countless lives lost to treatable diseases, often because patients delayed seeking care or distrusted formal healthcare.
“Breast cancer surgery is not just about removing a tumor; it’s about restoring dignity, confidence, and hope to women in my community,” says Dr. Abubakar. He credits his mentor, Dr. Karen Mbaabu, whose passion for breast surgery inspired him to follow this path.
He identifies three major gaps in breast cancer awareness and treatment along Kenya’s coast: low awareness, limited access, and lack of trust. Many women remain unaware of early warning signs or the importance of screening. Specialized care is heavily centralized in Nairobi, with the Coast region lacking PET scans, sufficient radiotherapy centers, and operational mammogram machines. Cultural beliefs and fear of surgery further deter timely interventions.
“We tackle these gaps by taking healthcare to the people,” Dr. Abubakar explains. “We conduct screening camps, create health literacy content in Kiswahili on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, run radio shows, and leverage multidisciplinary partnerships to bridge specialist gaps.”
Innovation and technology are also central to his vision for the future. Portable ultrasound machines, AI-assisted diagnostics, and minimally invasive procedures are transforming patient outcomes. At Surgeons001, laparoscopic and robotic techniques allow for more precise surgeries.
“We still need Breast Cancer Data Registries to track trends and inform policy. We’re also pushing for the use of sentinel lymph node biopsy and chemo ports to improve quality of care,” Dr. Abubakar Swaleh.
He adds that social media is a surprisingly powerful tool for awareness:
“But perhaps the most underrated innovation is social media. One well-crafted video in Kiswahili can save more lives than a week-long seminar.”
Through education, innovation, and community-centered care, Dr. Abubakar exemplifies how modern surgical practice can merge with advocacy to improve both awareness and outcomes for breast cancer patients in coastal Kenya.
Dr. Mwanabule Ahmed: A Woman Surgeon Shaping the Future of Care
For Dr. Mwanabule Ahmed, the first-ever female surgeon in Mombasa County, being a female surgeon in the field of breast cancer care brings both unique challenges and profound opportunities. She observes that many women feel safer and more understood when consulting with another woman, especially about sensitive issues like breast cancer.
“In our Swahili-Muslim culture, the breast is a deeply private matter. Elderly women often come wrapped in their buibui, calling me ‘mwanangu’ (my daughter). This emotional connection allows me to break cultural barriers with empathy, not confrontation, which often leads to better adherence to treatment.”
Dr. Mwanabule Ahmed
Being a woman in surgery brings its own set of challenges, from constant assumptions about her role to carving a place in a male-dominated field. People often assume she is a nurse, not the surgeon. But Dr. Mwanabule turns these assumptions into an advantage.
“I relate to my patients as a daughter, a sister, a woman. Many of them have never spoken openly about their health before. My own journey reminds me to give them not just medical care, but humanity,” she explains.
She emphasizes that representation plays a key role in improving health-seeking behavior and building trust among women.
“When women see other women in surgical roles, they feel safer and more confident. I’ve had older Swahili women tell me, ‘Nikikuona wewe, naona binti yangu’ (When I see you, I see my daughter). That trust is half the battle won in breast cancer advocacy.”
Dr. Mwanabule Ahmed
Through Surgeons001, Dr. Mwanabule has amplified her advocacy, appearing on platforms like Citizen TV’s Mwanamke Bomba and building a strong online presence to champion breast cancer awareness and women’s health. Here’s the link to the highlight.
Her work exemplifies how female representation in medicine not only enhances patient care but also strengthens community trust and education.
The Future of Breast Cancer Awareness in Kenya and Beyond
For Surgeons001, the vision for breast cancer care is ambitious but always rooted in the community. Their work goes far beyond performing surgeries, it includes educating women, raising awareness, and improving access to care. They believe that everyone deserves to understand her body, speak openly about her health, and receive timely, compassionate treatment. By combining medical expertise with empathy, they hope to create a culture where early detection and support are the norm, not the exception.
“Our vision is simple: early detection, accessible care, and community-driven awareness. We want a Kenya where no woman dies of breast cancer because of ignorance, stigma, or distance from specialized care,” explains the team.
By creating a model of care that is integrated, compassionate, and sensitive to culture, Surgeons001 ensures that surgical oncology addresses more than just disease, it also builds trust, preserves dignity, and inspires hope in every patient they serve.
“We may not control health policy or infrastructure, but what we can do is educate, demystify, and empower our people in a language and manner they understand best.”
Through their collaborative approach, Surgeons001 exemplifies how medical expertise, advocacy, and community engagement can converge to transform breast cancer outcomes in Kenya and beyond.
To learn more about Surgeons001 and follow their impactful work, you can reach out or connect through multiple platforms. Find them on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, X and Tiktok, where they share updates, educational content, and community engagement initiatives. Engaging with them is an opportunity to witness firsthand how dedicated medical professionals can drive awareness and improve outcomes for breast cancer patients.
This initiative by Surgeons001 is a powerful example of combining surgical excellence, community advocacy, and patient education to transform cancer care in Kenya. It’s inspiring to see a team so committed to both clinical and social impact. Their work sets a benchmark, and hopefully, other oncologists and healthcare teams across Kenya will emulate this holistic approach to breast cancer care and awareness.
- The Rise of Suicide Posts in Digital Spaces Reflects a Growing Mental Health Crisis - February 22, 2026
- How Kenya’s Silent Lifestyle Disease Crisis Is Reshaping Public Health - February 12, 2026
- The Rise of Lifestyle Diseases Emerges as a Crisis Among Kenya’s Youth - February 9, 2026