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 !!!”
Cancer is still a major problem in the world community, including in our beloved country, Timor-Leste. This disease is very dangerous because it can attack everyone regardless of gender, age, education level and social status.
With the main aim of raising public awareness of women’s cancer prevention and helping women affected by the disease, HALIKU or I Choose to Treat has become an organization that not only educates the public to prevent women’s cancer but is also involved in advocacy activities at the national level to reduce the death rate from cancer. breasts and cervix.
At every opportunity, HALIKU, an organization founded by 3 breast cancer survivors, continues to ask for attention from various levels of society, including government institutions, international organizations and civil society, to continue to care about the limitations faced by female cancer patients, especially in terms of the treatment process. including the need for introduction of the HPV vaccine in preventing cervical cancer.
The Executive Director of the Alola Foundation (FA), Maria Imaculada Guterres, when answering questions from journalists from The Diliweekly in 2020, said that it is very necessary for Timor Leste to start introducing the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in preventing cervical cancer, this is due to the number of patients those registered at the National Hospital are starting to increase. She also revealed that in developed countries, teenagers, both girls and boys, have all been given the HPV vaccine because this disease has caused many deaths, especially girls.
“The facilities we have are very limited, it is difficult to save patients’ lives when they arrive late for treatment,” she said, at his workplace in the Mascarinhas area, Dili.
Since it was founded in 2014, until now, HALIKU as an education and support program for female cancer sufferers in Timor-Leste has made a big commitment to helping the community, especially mothers so that they can know how to prevent it through early detection, increasing public awareness. about the need to avoid risk factors that contribute to women’s cancer. From 2014-2022, HALIKU has referred 225 patients to the Guido Valadares National Hospital.
“The key to preventing this disease is to practice early detection methods in everyday life because with this practice people can find out if there is something abnormal in their body and can immediately consult the nearest health facility to get early treatment,” explained Maria Guterres, Executive Director of Alola.
Early detection is not only fundamental in preventing cancer but also the key to saving lives. Therefore, awareness of the entire community is needed to maintain a healthy lifestyle in daily activities.
For 10 years, a series of activities have been carried out by HALIKU to raise public awareness by conducting mini workshops on women’s cancer prevention at village, city and national levels. Not only this, at the same time, HALIKU also calls for the attention of the public, both government, international organizations and civil society, to the limitations faced by female cancer patients in the treatment process, including the need for the introduction of the HPV vaccine to prevent cervical cancer.
In implementing these various activities, HALIKU collaborates with the Timor-Leste National Breast Cancer Commission (TLNBCC) as well as several other national institutions, city level institutions, members of civil society, religious groups, including students. HALIKU educates the public about the dangers of cancer in women, the risk factors that contribute to the spread of cancer and educates fellow women on how to practice early detection, including urging them to immediately go to a health facility if they experience symptoms. Not only that, the HALIKU team also provides advice, material support, spiritual and moral support to women suffering from cancer. As part of the Alola Foundation Program, HALIKU’s contribution will reduce the death rate in Timor-Leste, especially the death rate due to cancer in women.
Source : https://www.thediliweekly.com/tl/notisias/jender/17769-fa-nesesario-introdus-vasina-hpv-hodi-prevene-kankru-serviks
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 2019, HALIKU had referred 125 patients to HNGV including supported 18 patients for transport, 13 patients for biopsy and 6 patients provided 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.
