Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign

Name of the activity: Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign

Country/NMO: Lebanon (LeMSIC)

Program: Healthy Lifestyles & Non-Communicable Diseases

Contact information: [email protected]

Type of the activity: Campaign. Combination of education and advocacy. Campaigns create awareness in society about a certain topic (education aspect) and try to funnel this awareness into pressure on the decision makers to adapt policies accordingly (advocacy aspect).

General description:

According to its ministry of public health, Lebanon has one of the highest incidences of breast cancer in the region whereby 1 in every 8 women is diagnosed yearly with breast cancer. Despite the awareness being raised on the importance of early screening and the chances of cure rate with early detection, our region still lacks the proper knowledge and awareness on this matter. Our campaign was conducted in various schools in the regions of North Lebanon, and Beirut to reach out addressing high risk females aged 40 and above as well as the male population.

Our volunteers did receive extensive training by our equipped officials and the facilitators were then distributed on the schools targeted. The sessions delivered entailed the various risk factors, signs and symptoms, modes of prevention and early detection through mammography screening and breast self-exam. Each session was followed by a feedback on the content and style of the presentation along with distributed brochures

Focus area:

Cancer

Problem statement:

According to its ministry of public health, Lebanon has one of the highest incidences of breast cancer in the region whereby 1 in every 8 women is diagnosed yearly with breast cancer. Despite the awareness being raised on the importance of early screening and the chances of cure rate with early detection, our region still lacks the proper knowledge and awareness on this matter. Such numbers incited us to launch our prosperous activity targeting the high risk population for breast cancer

Target groups:

Women

Beneficiaries:

General population, Medical students, Healthcare Students, Other Students

Objectives and indicators of success:

-Deliver informative sessions for teachers/staff aged 40 and above on the following prominent points: signs, symptoms, prevention and early detection.

Indicator: Visiting at least 5-6 schools in each of the following districts (Beirut, Mt. Lebanon and North) in order to reach out to these women.

-Create at least printed forms comprising all the knowledge relayed in the sessions to be given to the target groups ensuring the sustainability of the project.

Indicator: Preparing around 100 brochures to be distributed to the attending women comprising all the information relayed in the presentation.

-Support the free screening campaign provided by the ministry of health to all women during the months of October through December.

Indicator: Ensuring that more than 60% of the women reached in the schools actually go and undergo screening for breast cancer.

-Launch an online campaign on the topic to be shared on all LeMSIC media outlets and at least one other online front.

Indicator: Ensure publicity of the event in at least 2 schools per region visited in addition to publishing at least one online infographic on LeMSIC page.

Methodology:

In Accordance with the free screening provided by the ministry of public health, we decided to launch a campaign that can provide women with the importance of early screening in increasing the cure rate from breast cancer. Our campaign was conducted in various schools in the regions of North Lebanon and Beirut to reach out addressing high risk females aged 40 and above as well as the male population.

Our volunteers did receive extensive training by our equipped officials and the facilitators were then distributed on the schools targeted. The sessions delivered entailed the various risk factors, signs and symptoms, modes of prevention and early detection through mammography screening and breast self-exam. Each session was followed by a feedback on the content and style of the presentation along with distributed brochures

Plans for evaluation:

This is the second year in which the breast cancer campaign is done. Last year it only involved the schools in the North region.

A total of 150 women were targeted from which 85% went to screening centers.Relying on last year’s great outcome we decided this year to go bigger to involve the region of Beirut in addition to that of the North.

Our evaluation session adopted was verbal: after each session delivered, those attending were asked several questions regarding the content to make sure that they have acquired the information discussed.

Also contact with the principle was established in order to keep up with the number of women who headed to screening centers after the presentation and so a recording system was established.

A feedback form to evaluate the content and style of the presentation was also given in order to see what lacks according to the public.