By Rose Buabeng & Mary Akukumah: AWDF

The Month of October is commemorated as Breast Cancer Awareness month (Pink October) in countries across Africa and globally. All efforts are devoted to increasing attention and support for the awareness, early detection and treatment as well as palliative care of this disease. In Africa, breast cancer is responsible for 28% of all cancers and 20% all cancer deaths in women. Incidence rates are still estimated below 35 per 100,000 women in most countries within Africa.

The African Women’s Development Fund published a report in 2020 on Women and Non-communicable Diseases in Africa which highlighted the impact of NCDs on African women. This report revealed that African women-led organisations are well placed to respond to the growing burden of NCDs including breast cancer due to their ability to reach and build capacities of local communities; provide a direct link between communities and policy makers; build multi-sectoral action and solidarity; provide holistic care and support for women and girls; engage the youth; sustain activities through high levels of commitment; and make a big impact with minimal resources. This accentuates the efforts of women’s rights groups and organisations such as Focus Droits et Accès (FDA asbl) in the Democratic Republic of Congo, to ensure that women and girls have access to information, screening and early diagnosis, quality and timely treatment and services required to enhance their wellness and wellbeing.

Focus Droits et Accès through AWDF’s support mobilised women and girls in the city of Goma, provided information on prevention and management of breast cancer; strengthened the capacity of grassroot women who engaged political, religious and traditional authorities for improved accessibility to breast cancer services. The organisation employed various strategies such as the use of IEC materials and mapping of all structures for the care of breast cancer in the city of Goma, including screening centres. The project has contributed to strengthening and improving access for vulnerable women and girls to services for the management of breast cancer, and has reduced mortality and morbidity rate linked to breast cancer among women and girls in Goma.

The impact of the work of Focus Droits et Accèss has shown that with strengthened capacity, women-led organisations will substantially increase awareness on breast cancer and improve access to services to life saving interventions. #PinkOctober