Programs and Events: Community Advocacy Grants - US-Middle East Partnership for Breast Cancer Awareness and Research
Programs & Events
Community Advocacy Grants
The Community Advocacy Grant Program seeks to reinforce the goals of the Partnership to reduce breast cancer mortality in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region through local and regional collaboration on advocacy and outreach. Through this Program, the Partnership provided individual grants of $5,000–$10,000 to support the expansion of local and regional partnerships, the exchange of information on effective strategies to raise breast cancer awareness, and capacity building.
The following Grant recipients have effected change in their communities through this Program. Collectively these groups have trained more than 100 health professionals on effective strategies to raise breast cancer awareness, informed more than 20,000 women on the importance of early detection, and supported more than 30 local and regional partnerships.
Breast Cancer Foundation of Egypt
BCFE: Women in the Darb el-Ahmar district in Islamic Cairo watch “Aida” at a public screening
“Educating Women on Breast Health Awareness through Film”
The Breast Cancer Foundation of Egypt (BCFE) produced a short film, “Aida,” starring Egyptian actress Samah Anwar about a woman confronting her fears about breast cancer to stress the importance of early detection. The movie was well received at the “Race for the Cure” in Egypt in October and at public screenings in Cairo. To view the film click here.
BCFE also prepared and disseminated more than 1,000 breast health leaflets to spread the word that breast cancer screening saves lives.
Breast Care Kuwait
“Breast Cancer Survivor Support Group Established”
Funded in part by the Advocacy Grant program, Breast Care Kuwait (BC Kuwait) established a network of breast cancer survivors to provide psychosocial support to newly-diagnosed patients and trained 12 volunteers and nurses on how to best inform patients about the stages of treatment.
Participants also learned how to effectively engage private and public constituents to promote breast health awareness. Kuwaiti hospitals were supportive of the project and, as a result, BC Kuwait has experienced an increase in patient referrals.
Egyptian Society for the Promotion of Women’s Health
“Educating Factory Works on Breast Health”
The Egyptian Society for the Promotion of Women’s Health, in partnership with Fertilizer Plant in Mansoura and the College of Nursing, increased awareness about breast cancer screening among a target population of about 350 female employees of a factory in Mansoura. Women met in intimate groups of ten and learned about breast health, risk factors, and how to give self exams. Based on specified risk factors 55 women have already been identified to receive mammograms.
Jordan Breast Cancer Program
JBCP: Twenty-five representatives from active NGOs in Eastern Amman were trained as educators in their communities
“Targeting Populations of East Amman during Awareness Campaign”
The Jordan Breast Cancer Program (JBCP) provided more than 6,000 underprivileged women in East Amman with information on self and clinical breast exams, mammograms, and the importance of early detection. More than 750 underprivileged women received free clinical breast examinations (CBE).
JBCP purposefully conducted the community sessions and free CBEs in October to leverage their annual National October Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign, which typically reaches 200,000 people. As a result of their project, new collaborations emerged with local NGOs including the Jordanian Association for Family Planning and Protection (JAFPP), Microfund for Women (MFW), and Jordanian Women’s Union (JWU).
Queen Zein al Sharaf Institute for Development (ZENID)
ZENID: Women learn how to do a breast sefl exam at an awareness session in Ajuon.
“Educating Remote Populations that ‘Early Detection Means Life’”
ZENID trained 17 managers and rural leaders of JOHUD Community Development Centers (CDCs) as health promoters to implement awareness sessions in their remote local governates in Irbid, Jerash, Karak, Al Balka, Ajloun, Madaba, and Mafraq. By December, the rural leaders had collectively held 58 workshops educating 1,714 women throughout Jordan about breast cancer, early detection, and breast exams.
The awareness sessions brought women to their local community centers, increasing their participation in public life and promoting networking. The sessions encouraged dialogue and in addition to sharing stories of friends who have died of the disease, women raised grievances about the inadequate services at health centers.
SOUL for the Development of Women and Children
SOUL’s awareness campaign was successful in targeting youth
“Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign Project in Sana’a Benefits Youth”
With grant funding, SOUL set out to establish partnerships between private and non-governmental organizations, support breast cancer outreach and patient education, and expand local volunteerism and community participation as part of their Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign. During their four-month campaign, SOUL conducted 22 awareness sessions in schools and health clinics throughout Sana’a, educating more than 1,100 women and girls on breast cancer awareness and the importance of early detection.
Their newly-formed partnerships with YFCA, Roche, Al Kuwait Hospital, and al Haiah Center have helped to provide trainings to health workers, as well as educational materials and free mammography screening to women throughout Sana’a.
The Tunisian Association for Breast Cancer Survivors Support
“Al Warda” was completed with funding from the Advocacy grants program and support from volunteers.
“Al Warda” Unit Completed
The Tunisian Association for Breast Cancer Survivors Support completed its breast cancer support unit, “Al Warda” in October in the Salah Aziz Institute.
The unit plans to help women from throughout Tunisia navigate the medical system and learn about breast cancer. Its long-term goal is to provide psychosocial support to women and their families.
Yemen Family Care Association
YFCA: Trainer shows midwives how to conduct a clinical breast exam.
“Breast Health Integrated in Health Centers”
Based on their experience with reproductive health, the Yemen Family Care Association (YFCA) sought to raise awareness of breast cancer through its integration of reproductive health and family planning programs. In 2009, they created the Yemeni Breast Cancer Alliance and with grant funds from the Partnership YFCA trained 40 nurses and midwives and educated 2,800 women on breast health.
YFCA was successful in introducing breast cancer counseling and exams within reproductive health services in 40 health units and centers, establishing a first of its kind referral system for breast cancer patients. Since its establishment 22 women have been referred to the oncology center in Sana’a.
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