World Health Organization (WHO)'s vision for a leukemia-free Africa: opportunities and challenges- a narrative review.
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Leukemia remains a significant contributor to cancer-related morbidity and mortality across Africa, particularly among children. Limited diagnostic capacity, late-stage presentation, inadequate treatment infrastructure, and financial barriers continue to impede early detection and curative outcomes. In response, the World Health Organization (WHO) has outlined a strategic vision under the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer (GICC), aiming to achieve at least 60% survival for children with the most common cancers, including leukemia, by 2030. This narrative review explores the alignment between WHO's global targets and Africa's regional efforts toward leukemia control. It synthesizes current progress, identifies systemic and contextual challenges, and outlines actionable opportunities for realizing a leukemia-free Africa. Using a narrative review approach, the paper examined peer-reviewed literature, WHO policy documents, regional health strategies, and gray literature published between 2010 and 2024. Despite growing policy attention, leukemia outcomes in many African countries remain far below global targets, with survival rates for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) as low as 20% and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) often under 10% in resource-constrained settings. Achieving WHO's 2030 goal of 60% survival for children with leukemia in Africa is possible but will require urgent investment in diagnostic capacity, political commitment to universal health coverage, and integration of leukemia services into national cancer control plans. Strengthening grassroots innovations and region-specific strategies will be critical to bridging the current survival gap and building resilient leukemia care systems across the continent.