337097
Mobilizing advocates in LMICs to reduce breast and cervical cancer
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
Higher fatality rates of breast and cervical cancer in developing countries are attributed to patterns of late stage detection, lack of access to cancer care, and low awareness of the benefits of early detection and treatment. In an effort to ensure progress toward reducing breast and cervical cancer-related mortality and morbidity in LMIC’s, the NCI and WECAN sponsor global workshops, most recently in Tajikistan and Tanzania. WECAN aims to strengthen the women's cancer advocacy movement by supporting regional networks that foster cancer awareness, capacity building, and sharing of best practices in advocacy to dispel damaging myths about cancer, influence social norm change and public policy. WECAN hypothesizes that the power of individual advocates is multiplied through regional networks that can be fostered through annual summits. The Tanzania Summit convened over 65 survivors, advocates, medical professionals, and government representatives, from 10 countries. In addition to information dissemination, patient advocates were empowered to engage with officials across the health care system to elevate the call for cancer education and advocacy. Outcomes of the first 2 African Summits included the creation of Malagasy Union Against Cancer, linkages between VIA project and Tanzanian MOH, integration of disenfranchised cancer survivors, and 10+ advocacy action-plans. Discussions highlighted the need to address stigma as a barrier to access cancer care and the NCI supported the development of a tool to measure stigma reduction as a long-term outcome of education and advocacy. WECAN plans to develop a small grants competition for advocacy organizations and support their grant-seeking efforts.
Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Chronic disease management and prevention
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Learning Objectives:
Identify the ways in which education and advocacy combat the barriers to late stage detection, lack of access to care, and lack of awareness to early detection and treatment.
Discuss how common and damaging myths on cancer can be addressed.
Identify ways to empower patient advocates at all levels of the health care system.
Keyword(s): Cancer and Women’s Health, Advocacy
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have worked on this porject for over a year and have the necessary academic qualifications.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines,
and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed
in my presentation.
