Pink Month: Awareness and humanitarian support for greater hope
In conjunction with Pink October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, GOPA-DERD’s team in various areas, implemented a series of activities and campaigns that were not just awareness meetings, but a space for humanitarian support and the exchange of inspiring experiences, and highlighting many important aspects such as methods of self-examination and the importance of periodic examinations that contribute to the early detection of the disease, and thus increase the chances of recovery in the early stages of the disease by a rate of up to 90% according to statistics of the World Health Organization.
In Lattakia, GOPA-DERD’s Community center’s team held awareness sessions for women in cooperation with UNHCR.
The sessions included an introduction to breast cancer and its risk factors, an explanation of the importance of early detection through available health centers, and home methods for self-examination. They also addressed gender-based violence and its relationship to Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the importance of mental health for women with breast cancer, and the writing of motivational messages encouraging early detection and combating violence.
In Jableh and Al-Haffah in rural Lattakia, GOPA-DERD’s “Beituna” Center’s team conducted an awareness-raising activities and sessions for women, on the importance of early detection and self-examination. The team also organized recreational activities and displayed videos telling the stories of cancer survivors. This took place in cooperation with NCA.
The team also held an awareness session for women in Al-Haffah, in cooperation with ZOA. At the end of the session, a visit was made to Al-Haffah National Hospital to conduct x-rays and ultrasound scans for the participants, to ensure their safety and encourage them to undergo regular checkups.
In Homs and under the title “Your Awareness is Life”, GOPA-DERD’s “DARB” Center’s team, implemented a series of awareness activities for more than 320 women in Al-Qusayr city and the villages of Arjoun, Al-Husaybiyah, Al-Jawadiyah, Al-Mouh, Al-Nazariyah, Al-Adhniyah, and Al-Barak, in cooperation with UNFPA.
The activities included comprehensive awareness sessions aimed at teaching participating women the methods and techniques of breast self-examination, correcting common misconceptions about the disease, and highlighting the importance of psychological well-being during the treatment journey.
The campaign also offered specialized services such as medical referrals, consultations, and clinical examinations for women aged 20 and above. In addition, personal hygiene kits were distributed to participants.
In a touching moment, a 20-year-old mother of two shared her personal story of battling the disease and the medical error she experienced during treatment—an inspiring testimony that shed light on the human side of the illness and encouraged other women to overcome their fear of early screening.
GOPA-DERD’s “HEAL” Center’s team in Homs carried out a series of awareness activities for more than 90 women from various neighborhoods of the city, in cooperation with Caritas Austria.
These activities, which continued for a full month, aimed to introduce women to the nature of the disease, its stages, symptoms, and risk factors, while emphasizing the importance of self-examination and radiological diagnosis. The sessions also included awareness discussions and recreational activities promoting healthy lifestyle habits.
In Tartous, both GOPA-DERD’s “PEERS” Center’s team, and “HEAL” project’s team, implemented several health awareness sessions for more than 150 women in both Bdeira and Kawkab al-Hawa villages in the rural of the governorate.
The sessions focused on the importance of early detection and methods of home self-examination. In addition, a set of psychosocial support sessions were implemented to emphasizing the importance of mental health care. This took place in cooperation with Caritas Austria.
In turn, GOPA-DERD’s “Hand in Hand” project team, in cooperation with UNICEF, organized an initiative entitled “Your Awareness, is Life,” aimed at strengthening women’s awareness of the importance of early detection of breast cancer.
The initiative, which lasted for three days, included awareness sessions presented by a specialized medical staff, which included a detailed explanation of the importance of periodic check-ups and methods of early detection. In addition, a practical training was provided by specialists on how to perform self-examinations correctly and regularly.
During the initiative, free check-ups were also provided to the participating women to check on their health.
With the aim of raising awareness about the importance of early detection of breast cancer and promoting a culture of self-prevention among women, GOPA-DERD’s “A Safe Maternity” program’s team in Aleppo, implemented a set of awareness sessions entitled “Your Awareness is Your Safety” for women in both Qadi Askar and Hreitan areas.
The sessions included defining the risk factors that qualify individuals for breast cancer, the signs and symptoms that warrant a doctor’s visit, methods and mechanisms of breast self-examination, and emphasizing the importance of periodic examinations at accredited health centers.
It also highlighted the role of nutrition and physical activity in preventing the disease, and the importance of psychological and social support for those affected.
At the end of the sessions, individual gynaecological medical consultations were provided by the team within the mobile women’s clinic. This took place in cooperation with ACT Church of Sweden and Radio Aid.
In As-Sweida and under the slogan “Remember, hope is stronger than illness”, GOAP-DERD’S team, concluded the Pink October Breast Cancer Awareness Month activities.
GOPA-DERD’s “CARMA” Program’s team, met with more than 80 women in the cities of Salkhad and As-Sweida, organizing two awareness sessions in cooperation with Caritas Austria, to highlight the importance of early detection in saving lives.
The sessions went beyond awareness, they became a space for human connection and shared experiences, emphasizing the role of psychological and social support during treatment and recovery. A specialist doctor also provided a simple explanation about the disease and self-examination techniques, encouraging women to take care of their health and well-being.
In Al-Hasakah, GOPA-DERD’s “DARB” Center’s team, conducted awareness sessions for a number of women, during which the importance of regular follow-up for early detection of breast cancer and methods of self-examination at home were emphasized.
GOPA-DERD’s “DARB” Center’s team in Al-Hasakah also implemented an awareness campaign that included various topics on breast cancer and the relationship between mental and physical health.
In Raqqa, GOPA-DERD’s “DARB” Center’s team implemented several sessions to raise awareness among local communities about breast cancer, its symptoms, and the importance of early detection through early examinations. This took place in cooperation with UNFPA.
In Daraa, GOPA-DERD’s “Beituna” Center’s team in Daraa implemented an awareness campaign for more than 70 women about the importance of regular check-ups in the early detection of breast cancer. This took place in cooperation with NCA.
In Deir ez-Zor, Ms. Fidaa spoke about her experience with breast cancer during her recovery0, saying, “I was suffering from severe depression because of my illness, and this session helped me feel stronger and more determined to overcome it.” This was during her participating in sessions and activities implemented by GOPA-DERD’s “Darb” Center’s team in Deir ez-Zor, in cooperation with UNFPA.
In the village of Marat in the governorate’s rural area, the team organized an awareness session entitled “Willpower is one of the strongest tools for recovering from cancer,” which included a comprehensive explanation of the nature of the disease, methods of prevention, the importance of self-examination for early detection, and available treatment methods.
With the aim of empowering women and promoting a culture of prevention, GOPA-DERD’s “Darb” Center’s team, conducted a health awareness session for a number of women at the Al-Amal neighborhood clinic in the city, presented by a specialist doctor. The session included an explanation of the steps of self-examination and the importance of early detection in increasing recovery rates healing.
In the village of Al-Shumaytiyah, GOPA-DERD’s “Darb” Center’s team, implemented a set of awareness sessions on the importance of early detection of breast cancer, Mechanisms for dealing with the disease, and the role of psychological support in the recovery process.
GOPA-DERD’s “Darb” Center’s team, also organized an awareness session in the Harabish neighborhood on the importance of willpower and psychological support during the treatment journey. In addition, a medical information on self-examination and prevention methods were provided. During the session, a woman currently receiving treatment shared her experience with the disease, saying, “After I underwent the examination, it became clear that the disease was in its early stages, which greatly helped me in my treatment.”
The sessions and activities were met with widespread participation from the residents of the area and contributed to raising health awareness among women and encouraging them to take practical steps to prevent the disease, especially in rural areas that lack specialized health services.
