Campaigning for Cancer

Join the Conversation: Advocating for Women’s Health in the MEA Region! Date: 29th of October 2024 Time: 10 am (GMT) | 12 (CAT) | 14 pm (Dubai time). For the duration of 3 hours Location: Zoom Stigma is a reality faced by many advocates in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, significantly impeding their ability to promote health and well-being within their communities. In addition to stigma, cultural norms deeply ingrained in many MEA societies shape healthcare practices and gender roles, creating further challenges for patient advocates. Addressing these barriers is critical to empowering advocates to foster change and improve healthcare access and equity in the communities. The Patient Advocate Incubator learning platform (PAI) in collaboration with Campaigning for Cancer, Dr. Sawsan Al Madhi, Advocacy Advisor, CEO & Founder of AlignnEficient Health Consultancies| Meaningful change via collaboration & advocacy (Dubai-London), and with the support of MSD, cordially invites you to the MEA regional roundtable, where we will bring together diverse advocates from different region to share challenges they face while advocating and identify key solutions to help improve their advocacy efforts. The roundtable outcomes will help shape a series of tools and resources that will be accessible on the Patient Advocate Incubator (PAI) learning platform equipping advocates with the knowledge and methodologies to build sustainable advocacy around patient needs. Please join us. To register, click on this link https://lnkd.in/dfxPtc2b

It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of our esteemed board member, Stuart John Lowe. A compassionate leader and visionary, he dedicated his time, expertise, and heart to advancing the mission of the organisation. His commitment, guidance, and kindness have left an indelible mark on our team and the community we serve. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Gabi and Kristi, friends, and all who were touched by his remarkable spirit. He will be deeply missed but forever remembered. We honour Stuart's legacy by continuing the work they cared for so deeply.

Meet Prisca Githuka, a resilient triple-positive breast cancer survivor and founder of the Pink Hearts Cancer Support Foundation. Her foundation has significantly impacted the community by raising awareness about breast and gynaecologic cancers, promoting screenings, and donating over 500 prostheses and compression sleeves. Motivated by her personal journey, Prisca is a dedicated cancer advocate, currently serving as the Chairlady of the Cancer Survivors Association of Kenya and the Board Secretary of the Kenyan Network of Cancer Organizations (KENCO). She also chairs the Advocacy, Education, and Research Committee at KENCO, focusing on evidence-based advocacy. Additionally, Prisca contributes to the survivorship technical working group of the Ministry of Health and the leadership committee of the Africa Cancer Survivorship Working Group. She is a fellow of both the UICC Cancer Advocate Program and the Campaign for Cancer Patient Advocates Incubator Program. An influential speaker, Prisca has addressed national and global forums, including the high-level panel at Kenya's first-ever Cancer Summit and the AORTIC conference in Senegal on survivorship. Please join me in welcoming Prisca Githuka!

Meet Karen a cervical cancer survivor and a member of the Africa Breast Cancer Council by Roche. She founded the Teal Sisters Foundation to raise awareness and provide screenings for hundreds of women, including those in prisons. An active speaker at international forums, she has participated in events like London Cancer Week and the MSD Africa HPV Forum Policy Roundtable. Karen serves on multiple committees, including the WHO Systematic Living Guidelines, and co-authored a paper on managing menopause post-cancer for The Lancet. A passionate advocate for cervical cancer elimination and the HPV vaccine, she believes all eligible girls should have access to the vaccine.

Meet Oni Adesuwa, the CEO of the Rise Against Hepatitis Global Initiative (RAHGI) and the founder of the Anti-Hepatitis Club. Oni is a dedicated advocate for hepatitis awareness and has made significant contributions as a member of several important organisations, including the World Hepatitis Alliance, the Civil Society Network on Hepatitis Nigeria, and the Coalition Against Hepatitis for People of African Origin. She is also involved with the Civil Society Engagement Mechanism for Universal Health Coverage and partners with the Hepatitis B Foundation and the Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination. Please join me in welcoming Oni Adesuwa!

Meet Ikram Eseghir, founder and president of NABD-BC2 Best Care for Breast Cancer Association since 2022, holds a Patient Partner diploma from Mohamed 6 Science and Health University. Wife and mom of 4 kids, academic degrees in English, culture, instructional design, eLearning and ICT. Work: teacher of English and, coordinator of language teaching programs and trainer for over 25 years. Different experiences with associations and non-profit organizations. Cancer survivor. Patient advocate. Speaker at national and international events. Current research focus on cancer care, health, advocacy, and meaningful engagement of PLWNCDs.

Meet our panelist, Dr. Reem Al-Ajlouni, a distinguished public health specialist and health economist with extensive experience in social development, health policy, and programme management. Currently, she serves as the Director of the Jordan Breast Cancer Program at the King Hussein Cancer Foundation and Center, where she leads impactful initiatives to promote healthy living and prevent disease. Throughout her career, Dr. Reem has held pivotal roles, including Health Project Management Specialist at USAID, National Health Officer at UNICEF, and Programme Coordinator at Médecins du Monde/France. Her contributions extend beyond her professional roles, as she actively participates on national and regional boards and committees, shaping strategies for health, social protection, and the rights of women and children. Dr. Reem’s academic background is equally impressive, with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the University of Jordan, a Master’s in Health Economics from the University of South Wales, and further postgraduate studies in Health Economics and Policy. Known for her expertise, strategic vision, and exceptional communication skills, Dr. Reem is a powerful advocate for global health and social development.

We’re excited to introduce our first panelist for the PAI Roundtable on Advocating for Women's Health Issues. Hani Nassar- Founder of Barbara Nassar Association for Cancer Patient Support - Lebanon. Hani Nassar holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy. Impelled by his wife’s illness and struggle with cancer, and days before her death in 2014, together they founded the Barbara Nassar Association to support adult cancer patients, and since then Hani devoted himself to achieve this objective. The journey also led Hani to bring together renowned oncologists from across the country to apply their unique expertise to cancer patients’ health and wellbeing. Proactively, the association has evolved beyond establishing medical connections to offering comprehensive services to patients at every stage of their disease and beyond. A staunch defender and leading advocate for the rights of adult cancer patients in Lebanon, Hani's persistent efforts prompted the Ministry of Health to mechanize the ministry’s medication system. He is a key speaker at Arab and international conferences, where his profound experiences and dedicated work in supporting cancer patients, coupled with his advocacy for their rights, make him a prominent figure in the Arab world in shaping discussions and initiatives related to oncology on both regional and global platforms. Join us on the 29th October at 10 am (GMT) | 12 pm (CAT) | 14 pm (Dubai time) to hear from Hani and other diverse advocates from across the MEA region as they share the challenges they face while advocating for women's health and discuss key solutions to improve their advocacy efforts. Click below to register: https://lnkd.in/dfxPtc2b Don’t miss out on this important conversation! #AdvocatingForWomensHealth #PAIRoundtable

Meet the Moderator Dr Sawsan Al Madhi CEO & Founder Advocacy Advisor, AlignnEficient Health Consultancies Dr Sawsan A. S. Al Madhi is a professional healthcare leader and consultant, Advocacy Advisor, entrepreneur, honour class master’s degree holder and an MD with more than 20 years of progressive leadership skills and experience in strategy, operations and administration in the non-profit charitable sector, advocacy and public health education & promotion within UAE and internationally. Other areas of expertise include: · Public speaking and academia. · Founder and CEO of AlignnEficient. · Health Consultancies · Previously working with one of the most reputable charities in the UAE Don't forget to join us for the Patient Advocate Incubator: Women's Health Advocacy in MEA Region roundtable! 📆29 Oct 2024 🕒 10am GMT | 12pm CAT | 2pm Dubai Register: https://lnkd.in/dfxPtc2b

Help Us Improve the Lives of Kidney Cancer Patients Globally! If you're a kidney cancer patient, survivor, or caregiver, we want to hear from you! Your insights are more than just valuable—they're crucial in shaping programs that will make a global impact. By completing our 20-minute survey, you can help us better understand the unique challenges kidney cancer patients face and work towards creating support systems that will improve the lives of patients worldwide. Take the survey here: https://bit.ly/ikcc2024GPS It only takes 20 minutes, but the impact will last far longer. Your voice matters. Join us in making a global difference! Please share this post to reach others who can contribute. Together, we can help kidney cancer patients around the world. #KidneyCancer #Campaigning4Cancer #PatientSupport #CancerCare #Advocacy #MakeADifference #SurveyForChange #SupportCancerPatients