Breast screening for 10,000 women in Gaza

This month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is known in Gaza as Rosy October.

Today I want to tell you about some of the wraparound community work that Al Ahli Hospital undertakes, which includes encouraging women to get screening, as well as the non-medical support offered to women who do receive a positive diagnosis as they go through their treatment journey. 

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Early diagnosis of breast cancer is vital; this can only be done by overcoming fear and social stigma. Al Ahli Arab Hospital seeks to educate 5,000 women a year about the importance of breast screening. They aim to screen over 3,000 women over 40 every year. But the solution starts away from the hospital, meeting women where they are through their 35 mobile clinics and community outreach programmes. Women, often those diagnosed with breast cancer themselves, go out to local communities, particularly in poorer areas where there may be lower levels of education. They spend time encouraging women to go for screening, talking them through the process, telling their stories and explaining why early diagnosis is so important. But it does not stop with the women; the community outreach workers speak to the men too, encouraging them to support their wives in going forward for screening and to continue supporting them, whatever the result.

Al Ahli also works with cancer support centres. In May we visited one such centre called the Smile of Hope Cancer Centre with Mohamed, the head of the hospital’s social work team. Upon entry at Smile of Hope, you are surrounded by colourful, uplifting messages and images and information about Rosy October is on every wall. We are greeted by Sami, who tells us:

“Early discovery is critical and must be our priority; that is why we need mobile clinics going out to all the communities.”

As well as educating people about the importance of screening, the centre is a place for cancer patients to go for support throughout their journey. 

Sami explains, “If you find you have cancer in Gaza, the Government will pay for you to have treatment in Israel, including accommodation, but they do not pay for transport. The hospital applies for the permit, but if the woman gets permission to travel, we organise and pay for it. We use Palestinian and Israeli volunteers from the West Bank.”

Sami went on to show us the leaflets they give out advising on what to expect, what people can and cannot take through the checkpoints and even vocabulary lists of useful Hebrew words. 

The centre also provides return support such as physiotherapy, counselling, and even a haircare service. Amal’s hair salon is full of wigs made from hair that had been donated. Amal told us her name meant hope and said, “I had cancer in 2003. I was lucky; I did not lose all my hair, but I was worried I would. Instead, it got a lot thinner. I want to help women feel their best during a difficult time.”

Thank you for your ongoing support of our work with women in Gaza.