SISTERS SUPPORT NETWORK (SSN) WORKS AND ACTIVITES By Mary Agyapong (Co-Founder and Executive Secretary)

OVERVIEW Introduction History Vision and Objectives Activities Achievements Collaboration

Introduction Sisters Support Network is a non-governmental organization with the vision of empowering women in the local communities on cancer awareness and other cancer control programs. More than 70% of the women in Ghana diagnosed and treated of breast and cervical cancers report to the health facilities at their advanced stages where palliative care is the only treatment regimen administered.

Introduction Some of the reasons for late stages at diagnosis are lack of screening facilities, ignorance about risk factors, signs and symptoms of these cancers, superstitions, poverty and delayed referrals. Sisters Support Network thus conducts community based training, education and screening programmes among women groups in the rural areas, churches and other local institutions in order to address some of these problems.

History Two people were moved by the rapid increase in cancer cases in Ghana. Two people were moved by the rapid increase in cancer cases in Ghana. SSN formation was thus a direct response to the cancer menace. SSN formation was thus a direct response to the cancer menace. The two are a breast cancer survivor and a professional nurse with 17 years experience in cancer care who incidentally lost both parents through cancer. The two are a breast cancer survivor and a professional nurse with 17 years experience in cancer care who incidentally lost both parents through cancer. The two sisters started cancer education and screening programs voluntarily in the local communities from January The two sisters started cancer education and screening programs voluntarily in the local communities from January 2007.

Mission To empower women in the local communities on cancer awareness and other cancer control programs. To empower women in the local communities on cancer awareness and other cancer control programs. To promote cancer health among women through education, screening, training, advocacy, counseling and support for those infected as well as collaboration with other organizations in the fight against cancer. Vision

Objectives  Screening of women for breast cancers  Education on prevention of cancers  Counseling and supportive care for women diagnosed with breast and cervical cancers  Training of volunteers for breast cancer screening  Advocacy for women affected with breast and cervical cancers  Networking with governmental and non governmental organizations to support cancer control programs.

Activities Training Training Talks Talks Radio and TV education Radio and TV education Walks and Floats Walks and Floats Screening Screening Navigation and Follow up Navigation and Follow up Website Website Collaboration Collaboration

Training Training workshops are organized Training workshops are organized for volunteers to build their for volunteers to build their capacity to conduct public capacity to conduct public awareness programme, breast awareness programme, breast screening and counseling. screening and counseling.

Talks Over the years SSN carries Over the years SSN carries out cancer education talks out cancer education talks in churches, para-church in churches, para-church groups and other groups groups and other groups and institutions. and institutions.

Talks We also carry out similar We also carry out similar talks and education talks and education programmes in second programmes in second cycle and tertiary cycle and tertiary institutions. institutions.

Radio and TV Programmes Radio stations with wider coverage have been used for radio talk show programmes in the region. Radio stations with wider coverage have been used for radio talk show programmes in the region.

Walks and Floats Cancer awareness walks are an integral part of our activities each year. As part of the walk, health talk, screening and distribution of IEC materials on breast cancer are done. Cancer awareness walks are an integral part of our activities each year. As part of the walk, health talk, screening and distribution of IEC materials on breast cancer are done.

Screening Screening exercises are carried out after walks/floats and talk programmes. Screening exercises are carried out after walks/floats and talk programmes. Where necessary referrals are made to the oncology directorate of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. Where necessary referrals are made to the oncology directorate of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.

Navigation and Follow up We also carry out visits to counsel and educate patients on; health maintenance, self care and coping strategies. We also carry out visits to counsel and educate patients on; health maintenance, self care and coping strategies. Relatives are counseled and trained on how to provide psychosocial support to their cancer surviving relatives. Relatives are counseled and trained on how to provide psychosocial support to their cancer surviving relatives.

Website Sisters Support Network is working on starting operations of its website where all her activities can be captured. Sisters Support Network is working on starting operations of its website where all her activities can be captured. It will also serve as a platform for educating the world on cancer. It will also serve as a platform for educating the world on cancer. Website address: Website address:

Collaboration Collaborative activities are also carried out with other sister organizations like Hopexchange, Reach for Recovery, Breast Care International (GBCA), etc. Collaborative activities are also carried out with other sister organizations like Hopexchange, Reach for Recovery, Breast Care International (GBCA), etc.

Achievements ActivityFrequencie s No of Churches No of Groups Institution s No of People reached Collaborators Verbal Education KATH Oncology, Ash. Regional Police, Hope Xchange Talk on Airwaves 9--Ashanti Region and beyond Screening KATH Oncology Hope Xchange, Breast Cancer Awareness Walk KATH Oncology, Ash. Regional Police, HopeXchange, GBCA, St Patrick’s Hosp.

Challenges Lack of communication facilities like Public Address system, projectors and so on. Lack of communication facilities like Public Address system, projectors and so on. Lack of funds to carry out all programmes, to employ full time office staff, to run gingles on air, to make adequate brochures and leaflets on cancer, etc Lack of funds to carry out all programmes, to employ full time office staff, to run gingles on air, to make adequate brochures and leaflets on cancer, etc Means of transportation to convey volunteers and screening assistants and other professionals to our screening centres and other remote areas. Means of transportation to convey volunteers and screening assistants and other professionals to our screening centres and other remote areas.

ANTICIPATION SSN believes that with increased awareness and education cancer will be reduced drastically. SSN believes that with increased awareness and education cancer will be reduced drastically. To this end we hope to promote networking, share ideas and resources with other organisations to optimize results. To this end we hope to promote networking, share ideas and resources with other organisations to optimize results.

END THANK YOU