In the UK, throughout Breast Cancer Awareness Month, MAP highlighted the many barriers to care for Palestinian women affected by the disease, and asked supporters to take action to ensure the UK Government does more to support these women. We have had a fantastic response, with more than 360 people emailing their MP in support of the campaign.
MAP’s partners across Lebanon and occupied Palestinian territory were also active for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, with a series of events and activities supporting diagnosis, treatment and care for the disease. Here are some of the highlights:
Lebanon
In Lebanon, MAP’s local partner Naba’a ran a series of community meetings on the issue of breast cancer in both Ein el Helweh and Rashidyeh refugee camps. These sessions, which were attended by 225 women in total, included informative talks, videos, group work and testimonies from survivors. Furthermore, referrals to clinics were given to those who wished to be seen by a doctor, with MAP covering the cost of any potential mammograms.
Naba’a also set up stalls for a day in each camp, where pamphlets and pink ribbons were distributed and women were encouraged to take photos with messages of support for Breast Cancer care.
Gaza
On 20th of October, 200 Palestinian health professionals including surgeons, representatives of NGOs and international organisations, as well as breast cancer survivors, gathered together for a seminar organised to promote breast cancer treatment and care. The workshop was organised by one of MAP’s local partner organisations, the Culture and Free Thought Association, which runs a women’s health clinic in the Bureij Refugee Camp. The seminar was joined via video link by Breast cancer surgeon and UK Member of Parliament Dr Philippa Whitford who gave a presentation on the latest advances and UK best practice in breast cancer surgery.
This month Dr Whitford has been supporting MAP’s call for the removal of the obstacles to care for Palestinian breast cancer patients, which include restrictions on the right to movement, and shortages of essential medicines in Gaza. Dr Whitford visited Gaza with MAP in April, having once worked there for MAP in the early 1990s, and whilst in Gaza she visited the Culture and Free Though Association centre meeting with a number of breast cancer survivors to hear about their experiences trying to access adequate care despite the blockade and closure of Gaza.
West Bank
This month in the West Bank, MAP launched its latest partnership with Bethlehem University (BU) aimed at improving the quality of care for cancer patients in the West Bank. The partnership will see MAP invest £110,000 in Bethlehem University to help fund the development of a Higher Diploma course for nurses in oncology and palliative care, and is set to be the first of its kind in the occupied Palestinian territory. The program aims to increase the number of cancer nurses in the West Bank who have the specialised skills and the knowledge needed to provide high-quality care to Palestinian patients with cancer.
The MAP-sponsored Dunya Women’s Cancer Centre in Ramallah, the only clinic in the West Bank to specialise in gynaecological and breast cancer, also held an array of awareness-raising activities in the community. These included a fun-run, music performances and a hair-donation campaign for wigs for women undergoing chemotherapy. The centre serves around 1,900 women per year, offering specialised cancer diagnostic services like ultrasound, mammogram, breast markers and wire localisation, plus more holistic services like physiotherapy and psychological counselling.
Though Breast Cancer Awareness Month has now ended, the barriers to care for Palestinian women affected by the disease continue. To read more and take action, click here.