For 20 years, Kwanele Asante told health systems to listen to patients. Then the UN gave her the mic
You may not know her name, but South African lawyer and bioethicist Kwanele Asante has spent two decades pushing health institutions — from Soweto to the United Nations — to listen to the people their policies are meant to serve. Sean Christie traces a life defined, from birth, by healthcare. The post For 20 years, Kwanele Asante told health systems to listen to patients. Then the UN gave her the…
Kwanele Asante, a prominent South African activist for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health, recently addressed the United Nations General Assembly regarding these issues. Born into a family of healthcare providers in Soweto, Asante faced numerous health challenges throughout her life. Her parents met in a TB sanatorium, and she and her brother were raised by their mother after their father left when she was five.
Asante's own health issues began with a breast cancer diagnosis at 37, which led her to become an activist and found BreastSens. She has since dealt with multiple illnesses, including chemotherapy-induced congestive heart failure, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and a functional neurological disorder. Despite these challenges, Asante has remained a powerful voice for those living with NCDs and mental health issues, rejecting the label "breast cancer survivor" to emphasize the interconnectedness of all her health experiences.
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