Breast Health Foundation (BHF) will over the year scale up its ambitious programme to improve South African women’s knowledge and understanding of breast cancer.
You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/buddiesforlife
This is thanks to a first-of-its-kind assessment (opened with a simple QR code) and being named as one of the three winners of the Innovator Program 2024 hosted by the Alliance & Partnerships for Patient Innovation & Solutions (APPIS).
The assessment
“The assessment takes the form of a cross-platform web application developed by Phithos Technologies, a South Africa-based research and predictive analytics company,” explains Louise Turner, chief operations officer at BHF.
Opened by scanning a QR code, the assessment is designed to determine an individual’s knowledge about breast cancer, covering crucial areas, such as signs and symptoms, screening, treatment, and risk factors. After completing the assessment, the user is issued with a report covering critical areas of breast health. The site goes live on 23 September 2024.
“The aim of the assessment and the BHF programme is to improve women’s knowledge of breast cancer, while also addressing misconceptions and superstitions that stop many women from seeking medical advice and care”, outlines Turner.
“Early detection saves lives, but we also know that health literacy is a huge issue in South Africa,” she says. “And what this assessment allows us to do is improve the health literacy of all South Africans, which will hopefully encourage women to seek medical advice and care early.”
The way forward
The partnership with APPIS now helps the BHF to roll out a programme of awareness across locations in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, and Mpumalanga.
The BHF will send out teams of patient navigators to clinics, where they will conduct assessments with patients.
“But of course, anyone can use the assessment,” highlights Turner. “With this tool we’re aiming to prevent the spread of misleading information and promote a more accurate understanding of breast cancer, which will then enable us to tailor our interventions and educational efforts to the specific needs of each demographic.”
About APPIS
Funded by Novartis, APPIS was established in 2021 to address disparities in access to healthcare across Africa, the Asia Pacific, and the Middle East. Under its Innovator Program, APPIS partners with organisations to help scale up innovative patient-focused solutions.
“This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the BHF team as we seek to address health literacy and play our part in shaping policy,” says Turner of the APPIS award. “And this opportunity will significantly expand our outreach to vulnerable women in rural and peri-urban areas, offering crucial education and culturally sensitive breast health awareness initiatives.”
The two other winners this year are So Brave, the only breast cancer charity in Australia focused on young women, uniting young breast cancer survivors to share their experiences and raise awareness among women aged 15 – 40 and Cancer Warriors Foundation (CWF) in the Philippines, which looks to improve cancer care for children, adolescents, and their families.
Scan the QR code to complete the assessment or click here
