WCD: An Opportunity for Raising Awareness and Advocacy

Background and context: Since 2013, FEMAMA organizes a World Cancer Day (WCD) campaign from UICC in Brazil. Besides that, FEMAMA sought to devise innovative actions aimed at raising awareness and advocacy, aligning UICC´s global campaign with local needs. FEMAMA wondered how the campaign and its related actions could have a larger resonance and impact. Currently, Brazil has been facing an important patient rights issue: the Ministry of Health was supposed to start providing an important drug for HER2+ MBC treatment to public health care (SUS) units, and this was a great opportunity to exercise social control. Aim: Raising awareness on the reduction of the impact caused by cancer in Brazil, in addition to assuring access to appropriate MBC treatment in the SUS. Strategy/Tactics: FEMAMA´s main strategy was to engage and encourage the participation of all 73 associate NGOs. FEMAMA realizes the strength of its network and its ability to adapt a global campaign so it can meet local needs. Program/Policy proces...