MBCGA Partners with Uganda Alliance of Patients Organizations

 Advancing Ultrasound Screening Solutions

The Male Breast Cancer Global Alliance (MBCGA) has long championed global advocacy, education, and innovation for men impacted by breast cancer and other rare cancers. In a landmark meeting with the Uganda Alliance of Patients Organizations (UAPO), MBCGA leadership engaged in dialogue with Ugandan health advocates Joshua Wamboga and John Amanya to discuss new strategies for cancer screening. The discussions centered on the promise of Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) as a proven, affordable, and scalable solution for early cancer detection in underserved countries.

Representing the scientific leadership of Dr. Robert L. Bard, an internationally recognized cancer radiologist, Dr. Lennard Goetze outlined how advanced ultrasound—particularly portable, hand-held systems—can redefine cancer screening in environments where traditional imaging infrastructure is limited or absent.

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The Need for Global Collaboration

Uganda, like many countries across sub-Saharan Africa, faces critical barriers in cancer detection and treatment. Access to mammography is limited to major urban centers; costs are prohibitive, and rural populations often have no practical route to early diagnosis. For men, the challenges are amplified. Male breast cancer is rare, poorly understood, and frequently overlooked, resulting in late-stage diagnoses and high mortality rates.

Joshua Wamboga and John Amanya stressed that effective partnerships must go beyond awareness—they must deliver tools that work within local systems. Their advocacy emphasized the potential of leveraging ultrasound as a frontline solution: portable, safe, cost-conscious, and adaptable to primary care settings.

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Ultrasound as a Proven Screening Solution

Dr. Bard’s decades of clinical research affirm ultrasound’s unmatched potential in breast and cancer diagnostics. Unlike mammography, which requires radiation, costly machines, and specialized facilities, ultrasound is radiation-free, repeatable, and highly versatile. Hand-held systems can identify abnormal tissue structures, distinguish between scarring and tumors, and map blood vessel flow through Doppler imaging.

Modern ultrasound probes now deliver high-resolution imaging capable of detecting small tumors in breast tissue—even in men, where cancers often present superficially at the nipple. With POCUS, physicians can also evaluate lymph nodes, skin involvement, and cancer staging without the delays and expenses associated with conventional imaging.

Perhaps most importantly, POCUS devices such as Clarius and Butterfly iQ can be linked to smartphones and tablets, empowering clinicians to bring diagnostic imaging directly to patients in rural clinics, community health centers, or even mobile outreach programs.

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Dr. Bard’s Advocacy for POCUS in Underserved Nations

As detailed in his statements, Dr. Bard has long championed POCUS as the next wave in democratizing access to cancer detection. He emphasizes that modern portable ultrasound is no longer experimental:

“The portable devices I helped develop have already proven effective in finding cancers in skin and breast tissue, particularly in men where tumors are right beneath the skin surface. The resolution is now so high that clinicians can detect these tumors as dark areas against white tissue, and with Doppler flow, immediately determine whether biopsy and treatment are warranted.”

This quantifiable, reproducible evidence allows ultrasound not only to identify disease but also to monitor treatment responses. Tumor blood flow can be tracked over time, enabling clinicians to assess whether therapies are working and adjust accordingly. For countries like Uganda, where expensive diagnostic follow-up is not feasible, POCUS represents a sustainable model of screening, triage, and treatment monitoring.

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Cheri Ambrose and the Global Equity Mission

At the meeting, Cheri Ambrose, CEO of MBCGA, reaffirmed the Alliance’s mission to bridge educational and technological gaps across continents. She emphasized that cancer equity cannot be achieved until all patients—regardless of geography—have access to accurate, timely diagnostics.

“Breast cancer in men remains misunderstood and underdiagnosed,” she noted. “By working with Ugandan ambassadors and UAPO, we are not only sharing knowledge but also building solutions. With POCUS ultrasound, we have the means to offer communities a realistic, proven screening tool that matches the economic and medical realities of Africa.”

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Ugandan Voices: Local Leadership for Lasting Change

Wamboga and Amanya echoed this call, framing the introduction of ultrasound within Uganda as both a health and social imperative. They outlined the double challenge facing their communities: limited infrastructure for early cancer detection, and cultural barriers that prevent men from seeking care until late stages.

They stressed that portable ultrasound could help rewrite this narrative. By training local clinicians in POCUS, community health workers could bring cancer screening to villages, reducing stigma and ensuring earlier intervention. For Uganda, this would mean a shift from reactive care—treating advanced cancers—to proactive strategies focused on early detection and survival.

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Building Scalable Programs

The MBCGA–UAPO partnership aims to design pilot programs that can serve as proof-of-concept projects for broader adoption. The goals include:

1.     Training & Capacity Building
Equipping Ugandan clinicians with skills in breast and general cancer ultrasound, including Doppler flow and elastography when available.

2.     Deployment of Hand-Held Devices
Introducing POCUS systems (Clarius, Butterfly, and others) into rural clinics and mobile health units.

3.     Screening Protocol Development
Establishing standardized protocols for breast screening in men and women using ultrasound, tailored to Ugandan healthcare systems.

4.     Community Outreach & Education
Partnering with patient advocates to raise awareness, combat stigma, and encourage men and women to seek early screening.

5.     Research & Validation
Documenting outcomes and building an evidence base for policymakers, funders, and international health agencies such as the WHO and the Gates Foundation.

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The Global Context

The Uganda–MBCGA partnership mirrors a broader trend: the recognition that technology-driven health equity is achievable when global expertise and local advocacy unite. International organizations, including the WHO, are increasingly endorsing portable imaging solutions for maternal health, infectious disease, and cancer screening. Uganda’s engagement places it at the forefront of innovation for low-resource environments, potentially inspiring similar initiatives in neighboring nations.

Dr. Bard has suggested that global adoption of ultrasound for cancer screening could even challenge wealthier nations to re-examine their practices. As he quipped in discussion, “If Uganda can roll out ultrasound for men’s breast cancer, why can’t the United States make it standard practice?”

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Looking Ahead: Toward Health Equity

The Uganda meeting represents more than a partnership—it marks a shift in global advocacy strategy. By focusing on solutions, not just awareness, the MBCGA and UAPO are setting a precedent for how international alliances can deliver practical, affordable interventions.

The vision is clear:

·        To make POCUS ultrasound the cornerstone of early cancer detection in underserved countries.

·        To empower local advocates and clinicians to lead implementation.

·        To ensure that men with rare cancers, too often left behind, have access to the same lifesaving tools as their counterparts elsewhere.

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Conclusion

The collaboration between MBCGA and the Uganda Alliance of Patients Organizations demonstrates what is possible when advocacy, science, and local leadership converge. With the leadership of Cheri Ambrose, the voices of Wamboga and Amanya, and the scientific foundation laid by Dr. Bard and represented by Dr. Goetze, this initiative is poised to deliver a new model of screening equity.

Point-of-Care Ultrasound is not a dream for the future—it is an imminent solution for today. Affordable, portable, and medically proven, POCUS offers countries like Uganda a pathway to earlier detection, improved outcomes, and reduced disparities in cancer care. As this partnership develops, it may serve as a blueprint for other underserved nations, ensuring that no patient, regardless of geography or gender, is left behind in the fight against cancer.