Alola Foundation"Strong Women Strong Nation"
Alola Foundation
MESSAGE FOUNDER OF HALIKU, MS. KIRSTY SWORD GUSMÃO.
"Women in Timor-Leste have a death risk 8 times greater than women in Australia after being diagnosed with cancer. This is not only due to lack of choice for care and access to health facilities in Timor-Leste, but also lack of education about the importance of early detection and intervention fast medical. I am proud of the work that HALIKU runs for a cancer awareness program for women through the Alola Foundation, "
“Your Life Is Only Worthy If You Can Give A Hand To Others In Need...Haliku Is A Hope For Many Women !!!”
14 February eleven years ago, was one of Timor-Leste’s most important moments in the fight against cancer. On this special day, 3 female cancer survivors consisting of Mrs. Kirsty Sword Gusmao, Mrs. Fernandes de Lima and Sister Angelita Gomes FMA took the initiative to organize a meeting to share experiences about women’s cancer especially breast cancer. In the first meeting held at the headquarters of the Timor-Leste Medical Dosage Association (AMTL) – Bidau Toko Baru, the group called HALIKU or I choose to cure was officially introduced to the community and this launch itself opened a new chapter in Timor-Leste’s fight against women’s cancer.
Sister Angelita Gomes. FMA, a breast cancer survivor who is also the founder of HALIKU stated that she became stronger when she was able to share her experience in the first HALIKU meeting about her struggle against breast cancer.
“Today, February 14, I wear black and white because black is a symbol of the struggle for those who are not with us today because of cancer and white is a symbol of hope for healing, hope for a better future for all our sisters,” said Sister Angelita, eleven years ago at the first HALIKU meeting.
Founded with the main goal of providing public education about cancer in women, HALIKU became the first organization in Timor-Leste to give all its commitment not only to educate the public to prevent early breast cancer and cervical cancer but also to provide support for women who suffer from female cancer.
Every year, cancer is one of the diseases that has caused more than 8.2 million women to lose their lives and 4 million of them die at the age of 30 to 69 years.
“If we want to save our lives, save our future and save our families, we must dare to go to the nearest health facility, we must not just trust traditional medicine,” explained Kirsty Gusmao when participating in the first HALIKU discussion eleven years ago.
The former First Lady of Timor-Leste also asked that women not be ashamed if they have symptoms of cancer because shame is an obstacle to getting the right health treatment. This statement is a concern for all women to dare to do early detection and visit the nearest health facility. Early detection is not only basic but also the key to saving our lives from women’s cancer so that awareness is needed from the entire community to maintain a healthy lifestyle in daily activities.
For 11 years, a number of activities have been carried out by HALIKU to increase public awareness of women’s cancer, including organizing mini workshops on cancer prevention in women at the village, city and national levels. Not only that, at the same time, HALIKU also invites the community, government, international institutions and civil society to pay attention to the limitations that female cancer patients face in the treatment process.
In various activities that HALIKU organizes, HALIKU collaborates closely with various parties such as the National Breast Cancer Commission of Timor Leste (KNKSTL) and several institutions, municipal institutions, civil society members, religious groups, and students. HALIKU provides public education about the dangers of breast cancer, contributing risk factors and how women can do early detection with practical physical examinations. HALIKU team also provides advice, material support, spiritual and moral support to women affected by cancer. As part of The Alola Foundation’s Alola Program, HALIKU’s contribution will reduce the death rate in our country, especially the number of women’s cancers.
“We have established good collaboration with the Timor-Leste National Breast Cancer Commission team based at the National Hospital to facilitate examinations for the cancer patients we refer, cutting through the long-term bureaucratic system that sometimes causes patients to lose their enthusiasm,” said Mrs. Maria Guterres, Director Alola Foundation Executive.
Since last year, HALIKU-Alola began collaborating with DMC to support histopathology and mammography diagnostic examinations for underprivileged patients. The Executive Director of the Alola Foundation also informed that starting October lastyear, Alola has started construction of a Women’s Cancer Care Center located at the Alola Main Office, Mascarinhas, Dili.
“Patients who come from remote areas and have no relatives in Dili during the treatment process can stay at this center with the help of nurses,” said Mrs. Maria Guterres.
In 2014-2024, HALIKU has referred more than 225 patients to the Guido Valadares National Hospital.
HALIKU’s objective is to increase women’s understanding on prevention, early detection and treatment of breast cancer. HALIKU educates people on symptoms of cancer and contributing factors, promotes importance of regular breast self-examinations and attending health facilities as soon as symptoms of cancer are identified. HALIKU also targets media for raising awareness campaigns through community radio and newsletters, and distribution of brochures and pamphlets.
The HALIKU team provided direct support to women for referrals to HNGV, support for biopsy, and provide wig, mastectomy bra, arm sleeve, as well as support for transport and purchase prescribed medicine when the medicine is out of stock. Thus from 2015 till 2023, HALIKU had referred more than 225 patients to HNGV including supported patients for transport, biopsy and rovided with mastectomy bra and breast prosthesis including purchase prescribed medicines.
HALIKU uses various methods to campaign about the importance of self-examination as an effort to detect cancer early, starting from mini workshops, leaflet distribution, conferences, radio – tv talk shows, exhibitions, community discussions and many others. This is done to raise awareness in all levels of society starting from students, housewives, government officials, police and armed forces, young activists, including religious leaders both at local and national levels.
Training for health workers: In September 2019, Alola’s HALIKU organised four days of training for 50 (F:37 and M:13) health workers (midwives, Nurses and general practitioner) from HNGV, Community Health Centres and private health clinics in Dili which took place at HNGV training room. This activity was divided into three phases – Wound Management, Clinical Breast Examination and Being Breast Aware. This activity was facilitated by six trainers from Australia and Malaysia representing McGrath Foundation Australia and Breast Cancer Welfare Association Malaysia with financing from ABC Global Alliance.
Training for Breast Cancer survivors and HALIKU Volunteers: Subsequent to the health worker’s training at HNGV, the team of Breast Cancer Welfare Asociation Malaysia continue to hold a two days training on “Psychosocial Support to Breast Cancer Patients” for breast cancer survivors and HALIKU volunteers at Fundasaun Alola training room. Total 23 (all women) participants attended the training and the training was focused on increasing participants knowledge on breast cancer and preventions including how to offering a psychosocial support to breast cancer patients through counseling at home and at health facility.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) is a worldwide annual health campaign taking place in October that highlight the importance of breast awareness, educate people about the importance of early screening, test and research. This campaign organized by major breast cancer charities and involving thousands of organisations starts on October 1 and ends on October 31 every year.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is as much about raising funds for breast cancer research and support, as it is about raising awareness. The supporters will be donning their pink ribbons as a show of support for ongoing research for a cure.
HALIKU fundraising: Mr. Xanana Gusmao’s 73rd birthday was celebrated in Dili in June 20th 2019 at El Legendario and was also a fundraising event for HALIKU. Alola’s MCH team, with support from Mr. Xanana Gusmao, organized an auction and invited companies and the private sector to participate. The auction was led directly by His Excellency Mr. Xanana raised funds of USD 128.338.30 to support HALIKU activities and to continue its mission in raising awareness and support vulnerable patients of women’s cancer in the country.
