Strategy Development for Increasing Screening Participation Awareness and Resource Mobilization The Akbaraly Foundation experience

The Akbaraly Foundation Founded in 2008 The Akbaraly Foundation is a multi-pillared organization dedicated to improving the health and welfare of women in Madagascar and, through them, contributing to the development of the country. Our goals are focused on measurable, sustainable, actionable activities that will improve the health and quality of life for women and their families.

4AWOMAN “CARE FOR WOMEN, LIFE FOR A COUNTRY ” 4AWOMAN “CARE FOR WOMEN, LIFE FOR A COUNTRY” 4AWoman has been developed principally to fight the increase in breast and cervical cancers in Madagascar. Breast and cervical cancers have the highest rates of incidence and mortality among women in Madagascar, accounting for 58.3% of all cancers affecting Malagasy women, according to GLOBOCAN statistics

Action regions We have set up our project in 3 mains regions of the island. Currently 2 programmes are running in the North and in the South. The AF prevention health center is linked with the University Hospital and with a Peripherical Health Center network. The main center supplies the screening tests and the diagnosis, the hospital provides treatment to patients while the network caters for the rural communities.

The women pathway Awareness Screening Early detection Treatment

Weaknesses in bringing women to the pathway  Increase counciousness at government level  the national health policy should be directed towards the fight against cancer  need to create a shift in public opinion  fight the stigma / remove the fear  change of lifestyle

In order to improve women’s participation improve the cancer knowledge at country level ADVOCACY AWARENESS

Advocacy Strategy Become a Technical Partner of the Ministry of Health 2010: launching of the 4AWOMAN projet alongside the launching of the very first National Policy against cancer of Madagascar 2014 : working on the analysis, concept and report on the new Health Policy as Partner of the Ministry of Health Communicate and sensitize the national and international community 2011 : TED X Antananarivo « Ideas for Women Cancer Control in Africa » Mobilise the Malagasy population WCDay 2014 : UMaCC creation (Malagasy Union Against Cancer )

Malagasy Union Against Cancer Leadership advocacy on the of the country’s needs in cancer treatment Leadership advocacy on the of the country’s needs in cancer treatment General awareness campaigns about cancer (healthy lifestyle, prevention, early detection, elimination of stigmas … ) General awareness campaigns about cancer (healthy lifestyle, prevention, early detection, elimination of stigmas … ) Human support to patients and their families Human support to patients and their families Globathlon, press conference, WCDay celebration watch?v=mj9bWSntknk

Awareness Strategy TV PROGRAMS Short spots low effect News report 30 % Medical interviews 60 % Debates and TV 20% games

Awareness Strategy RADIO SPOTS Short spots low effect Sport champion ambassador spot low effect Medical interview ( question /time ) 40 %

Awareness Strategy FACE TO FACE Market days low effect Enterprise low effect Medical awareness below from the doctor

Awareness Strategy FACE TO FACE Women’s organisations 65 % Direct in the health centres 52 % Mobilisation of 40 % young volonteer

Awareness Strategy Walk Marathon

Lessons Learnt Pay attention to the meaning of advocacy and awareness Ensure the message is well received by the audience (cancer message cannot be passed in short spots - the message should be concise, unambiguous, positive, focussed on prevention) One target one message Resource mobilisation (schools, churches, NGOs, community health workers, civil societies, volounteers) Awareness + screening increase screening participation

Mobile Unit Project Raising awareness, early screening and health care in rural areas MEDICAL STAFF VOLOUNTEERS COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS PUBLIC HEALTH CENTRES CIVIL SOCIETY

Photo Gallery

Acknowledge I would like to thank the Akbaraly Foundation team and our Communications Director who assisted me in that reflection and presentation. Special thank you to WE CAN for giving us the opportunity for the second year to learn, share and improve, which will certainly lead to a better future for African Women.