Conference
BCIEA INC. SECOND BREAST CANCER CONFERENCE:
DATE: MONDAY, JUNE 13, 2011 in Kigali, Rwanda
VENUE: CHURCH OF CHRIST RWANDA, (CCR), KACURIRO, KIGALI Pastor Winifred Muvunyi of The Anglican Church, Rwanda opened the conference with prayers. She expressed her support for BCIEA and outlined how collaboration with churches in awareness and sensitization campaigns is critical. She demonstrated her commitment to BCIEA by the introducing several representatives from Mothers Union and local Diocese groups at the grass root level who attended the conference and promised to include breast health in their agenda. She pledged her support and invited BCIEA Team to come and train her women how to do breast self exam as soon as possible. She donated a TV to BCIEA Kigali office.
Anne Rugege, the Executive Director, BCIEA Rwanda welcomed the participants, stated the theme of BCIEA Second breast cancer conference and gave an overview of the agenda which consisted of presentations by select individuals; medical experts, researcher, advocate, guest speaker, policy maker and breast cancer survivors. Included were also break-out sessions for coffee/tea and interactive open-forum. The participants enjoyed an interactive, sumptuous lunch catered by Rose Kabuye, a major BCIEA Supporter. Anne cautioned participants that the conference would conclude with reflections, resolutions and evaluation.
Anne conducted an ice-breaker activity which enabled participants to get to know each other and network briefly. This activity enabled us to identify which groups or institutions were in attendance and their needs such as language/translation, health/diet. Anne Rugege called upon Philippa Kibugu-Decuir, BCIEA Inc founder to address the conference. After reflection on the success of the Ulinzi Walk of June, 12, 2011, Philippa commemorated BCIEA Inc. on its Second Breast Cancer Conference, reminded the participants about the mission, vision and the significance of the theme. She reviewed BCIEA’s milestones since its inception and thanked God and all BCIEA’s supporters.She announced the cancelation of two international presentations because of the presenters’ sudden illness and death in the family.
A synopsis of Philippa’s presentation:
We hear much about mammograms and screening, but studies have recently shown that in poor countries raising awareness about this disease might be the initial best way to go while we look for money to acquire these expensive machines. The focus on awareness highlights the fact that breast cancer is a cost-effective, treatable disease if detected early and by encouraging more women with palpable lumps to seek treatment timely, lives would be saved. The first thing we have to do is embrace three things: IKUNDE, IMENYE, ISUZUMISHE and then believe that “Early Detection is the Best Protection” When you love yourself, value and know your body, you will be empowered to use the information you learn to take care of yourself. The challenges of breast cancer control and implementation in East Africa and Rwanda in particular, are major. Advanced stages of presentation, poor diagnosis and treatment capacities lower breast cancer survival rates. Existing health systems and patient barriers compound the situation. Lack of adequate pathology services for diagnosis, staging, fragmented treatment options, appropriate equipment and drug access/acquisition and are major issues. Patient barriers play a major role too because women do not present for diagnosis until cancer has progressed locally or in matastic stages. Studies show that death does not occur when cancer is in the breast, it is when it moves and spread to other body organs that death is more likely to occur.
The increase of community awareness is imperative to change the mindset of viewing breast cancer as a death sentence, to a cost-effective treatable disease if detected early. It is also critical that this awareness spreads over to the public health care professionals and policy makers for they are stakeholders in this campaign. We are all on this journey together.
Philippa introduced Dr. Odette Nyiramirimo, Chief Health Advisor, East African Health Advisory, and Member of Parliament, Rwanda.