Applying domestic best practices in Latin America to enhance the breast cancer continuum of care: The role of partnerships and coalitions

The approach to breast cancer as a global disease varies greatly by a country's cultural norms and economic means. As a result, programming that is customizable and multifaceted is crucial to addressing these diverse and complex needs. In response to the high rates of breast cancer mortality on a global scale, Susan G. Komen established a Global Initiative designed to share almost 30 years of breast cancer best practices with international entities in a comprehensive format. The overarching goal was to implement and assess the impact of customized programs that address specific local breast health needs and barriers. Using a multi-method approach this initiative aimed to provide education and training workshops, collaboration opportunities, and grants to community based organizations on the global landscape. As a result of these efforts, in Latin America, a strong regional network of 200 organizations was mobilized to collectively address the breast cancer crisis and make women's health and cancer a priority on the global health agenda. These in-country and regional networks are implementing programming with a two-pronged model that incorporate evidence based awareness and education at the grassroots level, and grasstops advocacy to drive change from within the public health system. This presentation highlights the successes and challenges of implementing a comprehensive breast health initiative in Latin America.