Mexico Grants 2009
Advocacy through Sensitization, Awareness, Training and Knowledge of Health Rights
Project Location: El Salto, Jalisco, Mexico
Project Leader and Organization: Angela Garcia, Latin American and Caribbean Committee for the Defense of Women’s Rights (CLADEM)
Project Year: 2009
Focus Area: Education and Outreach
Project Description: This project organized breast cancer awareness workshops led by an organization of lawyers focused on empowerment, awareness and training for women from the low-income community of El Salto, Jalisco. This area, which experiences great pollution and toxic waste problems, has seen a rise in its breast cancer incidence rates. As a result of this project, 23 volunteers were trained in breast self-awareness educational outreach to be able to replicate the training received.
Breast Cancer Awareness and Training for Medical Health Professionals
Project Location: Cuquio, Jalisco, Mexico
Project Leader: Dr. Manuel Cortes Anguiano
Project Year: 2009
Focus Area: Training for Health Professionals
Project Description: Through the successful collaboration between hospitals, the public sector and non-profit groups, this project provided breast cancer training for medical staff in an effort to increase rates of early detection in Cuquio, Jalisco. Access to health services and resources is limited in the area and many women are diagnosed at a late stage of the disease. In total, 29 health professionals received clinical breast exam training and 135 women were screened through mammography or ultrasound, with five cases of breast cancer detected and treated.
Breast Cancer Training for Medical Personnel in Cuernavaca
Project Location: Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
Project Leader and Organization: L.E. Cecilia Gallardo Demesa and Tan. Lucia Ramirez Salazar, Grupo Reto
Project Year: 2009
Focus Area: Training for Health Professionals
Project Description: As a coordinated effort between the breast health group Grupo Reto and the Ministry of Health in Morelos, this project provided breast health training workshops to 30 health professionals who were trained in breast self-awareness outreach. These 30 health professionals then gave a total of 90 workshops in their jurisdictions and reached more than 2,300 people in the community. In conjunction with the State of Morelos’ 2009 campaign to provide free mammograms, the project helped 2,000 women receive mammography screening.
Creating a Culture of Breast Cancer Awareness
Project Location: Oaxaca, Mexico
Project Leader and Organization: Catalina Martinez Ortega, Kinal Antzetik
Project Year: 2009
Focus Area: Education and Outreach
Project Description: This project held workshops in breast cancer awareness for the first time in the Triqui indigenous communities of Tlaxiaco Putla and San Martin Ytunyoso, two of the most marginalized communities of Oaxaca. These populations experience extremely limited access to medical resources, low rates of early breast cancer detection and a lack of preventative breast health education. The workshops were designed with a culturally-sensitive approach and incorporated both men and women of the communities. The project trained 38 women and 8 men in breast self-awareness and healthcare rights. An additional 41 volunteer facilitators were trained in breast self-awareness to be able to train other members of their community.
Development of a Model of Education and Promotion of Breast Health
Project Location: Uruapan, Michoacan, Mexico
Project Leader and Organization: Alejandra Duran Rodriguez, MEXFAM
Project Year: 2009
Focus Area: Education and Outreach, Community Assessment
Project Description: This project aimed to systematize a model for breast health education and promotion. It implemented a community strategy for the promotion of breast cancer awareness and early detection. The group conducted a breast health community assessment of needs by interviewing community members and medical professionals of Uruapan. The project team then implemented a pilot of this education model and trained 30 community health promoters in breast cancer and breast self-awareness. These 30 community health promoters were also trained as facilitators for three Community Days of Conversation and Action Regarding Breast Cancer, where 478 residents of Uruapan attended. The model also included breast cancer screening: 1,011 women received mammograms and 418 were screened via ultrasound, resulting in 3 positive diagnoses of breast cancer. The last component of the model included support groups: 5 breast cancer patient support group facilitators were trained. At the end of the project period the project team had plans to complete development of a document that synthesized the model of breast health education which would then be presented to health authorities with the objective of institutionalizing the education model.
Self-Esteem, Self-Empowerment and Self-Care
Project Location: Monterrey, Guadalupe, and San Nicolas, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
Project Leader and Organization: Maria Guadalupe Cruz Hernandez, Communication and Information for Women in Nuevo León
Project Year: 2009
Focus Area: Education and Outreach
Project Description: This project designed and conducted 10 workshops on the topics of self-esteem, empowerment and self-care related to breast cancer and health. As a result, 210 women in the state of Nuevo León participated in the workshops and 148 women were referred for mammography screening. The project team compiled breast cancer resource materials for the women who would then be able to share them with other women of their communities.
Training in Detection and Timely Treatment of Breast Cancer for Multidisciplinary Health Providers at the Community Level
Project Location: Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
Project Leader: Adriana J. Perez Escobedo, CIMA Santa Engracia Hospital
Project Year: 2009
Focus Area: Training for Health Professionals, Education and Outreach
Project Description: The goal for this project was to improve upon the knowledge and ability of medical professionals in the Ministry of Health to detect breast cancer at earlier stages. Through a public-private collaboration in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon between the Ministry of Health and the private hospital CIMA Santa Engracia, the project provided theoretical and practical training to 20 health providers from community health centers, the community’s first contact with medical practitioners. Additionally, in two educational sessions, the project team also promoted breast self-awareness to 140 local women.
Women and Organizations Promoting Breast Health for Mexican Women
Project Location: Mexico City, Mexico
Project Leader and Organization: Maria Esther Casanova Padilla, CIMAS
Project Year: 2009
Focus Area: Education and Outreach, Networking
Project Description: No project better exemplifies the spirit of collaboration than this one. The project leader developed a formal network of breast health organizations in Mexico City within the Cancer Network called the Breast Cancer Group (SECAMA). The SECAMA network met with representatives of the Natural Disaster Fund which serves women who are diagnosed with breast cancer, and the Women’s Institute of Mexico City in an effort to collaborate on programs and policies to offer integral breast health care for women who do not have social security. The network also held a “Circle of Women” activity attended by more than 300 women and funded by the US Embassy. This event included sharing of breast health knowledge and a Zumba dance class. The network created a website within the Cancer Network site which provides breast health information, as well as the network’s activities, and hosts the network’s directory of breast health services in Mexico City. This website is quickly becoming an important, go-to resource on breast health organizations in the area and continues to be promoted in various contexts such as local magazines and in bookstores.