ActionAid Palestine to Support Activities on Occasions of World Mental Health Day and Breast Cancer Awareness Month
West Bank-Hebron Governorate -ActionAid Palestine (AAP)implemented activity on occasions of World Mental Health Day and Breast Cancer Awareness Month to raise awareness about importance of conducting early medical examination for breast cancer through its women program. This activity was organized in partnership with the Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights, nursing faculty in Hebron university, Palestinian ministry of Health and union of social workers. More than 100 women were targeted in this activity who came from different marginalized areas in governorate of Hebron including the Southern area, Tel Rumedia and Al-Jalajel.
The women received a full explanation about how to self-examination and instructions on the most important health centers specialized in conducting an early examination. In addition, raising awareness and stress relief activities on mental health of women were organized raising awareness of women about mental health and the importance of early detection of breast cancer. There was also a purposeful and stress relief theatrical performance. Many corners were placed presenting issues of healthy nutrition and mental health and how can people take care and adhere to these issues. There was a corner for pink October and examination of blood pressure and diabetes.
The participation of women groups of AAP was through its project “Valiance -Basala -Empowering women in old City of Hebron(H2)” funded by Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trad. This project seeks to economically empower Palestinian women to address reasons of their vulnerability and lack of gender quality in the community. It also aims to raise awareness of women on legal and health issues, organize advocacy campaigns to defend women’s rights, strengthen their rights and ensure a healthy and dignified life for them under protection threats they face in the southern area and other places in the south of West Bank.
13% of death cases in Palestine are caused by cancer according to official statistics of the Palestinian ministry of health. In general, breast cancer accounts for 18% of all types of cancer in Palestine.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Palestinian women in the West Bank and accounted for 32% of all cancer cases among women in 2020. Restrictions on freedom of movement for both patients and healthcare workers, shortages of essential medicines, and the fragmentation of the health system in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) mainly impede Palestinians with breast cancer from receiving effective treatment and care.
Breast cancer accounted for 34.3% of all cancers among women in Gaza in 2021 and made up 13.3% of all cancer deaths between 2016 and 2020, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Many Palestinian women infected with breast cancer in Gaza are denied access to receive medical treatment in East Jerusalem and other places in the world due to Israeli restrictions on Gaza, including its 15-year illegal blockade.
Background Information
ActionAid in Palestine (AAP) is a part of global federation working for social justice and gender equality and eradicate poverty in more than 45 countries around the world. AAP started its work in Palestine in 2007 to strengthen the resilience of Palestinian People as ActionAid believes that they should enjoy their rights to freedom, justice and self-determination. AAP implements a number of programs through its engagement with communities and women and youth groups seeking to empower them and enhance their influential civil and political participation to understand their rights and undertake collective activism to address the protracted rights violations resulting from the prolonged occupation of Palestine. AAP works simultaneously to enhance their leadership capacity and knowledge to practice their citizenship in holding authorities and other duty bearers to account.
For more information, please contact
Riham Jafari
Coordinator of Advocacy and Communication in Palestine
Mobile:
+972 (0) 595242890
Office:
+972 (0) (2) 22 13 137
Email: