In 2023, the Science Health Education (SHE) Center established SHE Cares, a locally-run collaboration network across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) focusing on women’s health issues such as gynecologic and breast cancers, sexually transmitted diseases, and reproductive health. The initiative engages local collaborators to ensure programming relevance and effectiveness, offering frequent workshops in collaboration with local organizations. Targeting women aged 14-40, SHE Cares aims to build an educational network for support and engagement in women’s health matters.
SHE Cares
SHE Leads Panel at Jordan Breast Cancer Program Regional Conference
June 2023 – The SHE Leads Panel featured women leaders from the MENA region moderated by Dr. Madani at the Jordan Breast Cancer Program 2nd regional conference hosted in Amman, Jordan.
SHE Hopes for Peace: Healing Women's Cancer to Strengthen Communities
Considering the high incidence and mortality of breast cancer in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), and as a continuation of SHE Cares work, SHE Center will be launching “SHE Hopes for Peace: Healing Women's Cancer to Strengthen Communities,” an initiative that aims to decrease breast cancer incidence and mortality by promoting prevention and early detection.
SHE Cares Workshop – Amman, Jordan
June 2023 – A SHE Cares Workshop held at King Hussein Cancer Center (KHCC) addressed challenges impacting women’s reproductive health in the region.
The Challenge: Rising Breast Cancer Rates Amid Barriers to Early Detection and Treatment
Breast cancer poses a significant health challenge in countries with limited resources, where incidence and mortality rates are increasing alarmingly. In 2022, 2.29 million new cases were diagnosed globally, with approximately 665,000 deaths, disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income countries due to late-stage diagnosis and limited access to quality treatment. In MENA, breast cancer is diagnosed at a younger age compared to Western countries. Survival rates range from 40% in Palestine to 70% in Jordan and Morocco, far below rates exceeding 90% in the U.S. In addition, the MENA region faces barriers such as lack of universal health coverage, advanced diagnostic centers, stigma, and cultural barriers hindering early detection efforts. Public and healthcare provider awareness about screening and early detection remains low, exacerbating the problem. These countries also suffer from inadequate resources and trained specialists, further complicating efforts to improve breast cancer outcomes.
Our Solution: Early Detection and Prevention of Breast Cancer
Our focus is on early detection and prevention of breast cancer in the region, aiming to improve survival rates and reduce healthcare costs through:
- Women-focused workshops: Educating women under 50 on self-exams, clinical checks, and mammograms
- Healthcare professional training: Equipping providers to increase breast cancer screening recommendations
- Addressing stigma and mental health: Supporting mental well-being and providing psychosocial support
- Establishing breast cancer registries: Collecting data to guide effective cancer control strategies
- Building research capacity: Training in epidemiology to tailor prevention and treatment approaches
- Enhancing early detection infrastructure: Expanding mammography access and strengthening detection centers
These efforts aim to significantly lower breast cancer morbidity and mortality, thereby improving outcomes for women.
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Learn More About the SHE Center
Education and Training
Using mentorship and educational capacity-building tools for scientific research and care, we are training the best and brightest individuals within the MENA region as the next generation of leaders in health care and policy.
Research
The SHE Center facilitates collaborative research specific to the MENA region – addressing key health gaps through cutting-edge research, with the goals of better understanding and ultimately reducing the region's disease burden.
Events and Advocacy
The SHE Center frequently hosts, sponsors, and promotes special events and projects throughout the United States, the Middle East, and North Africa, including Teatime with SHE and SHE Walks.