With Generous Contribution from the Government of Japan, UNFPA and WHO inaugurate digital mammography at Rimal Clinic in Gaza

Gaza, 11 September 2017 – UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, the World Health Organization, inaugurated today a new digital mammography clinic at Ministry of Health Rimal Center in Gaza. The clinic was established as part of and crowning a project to Combat Breast Cancer in Palestine, generously funded by the Government of Japan and implemented by UNFPA and CCP Japan (Campaign for the Children of Palestine) with generous financial support of USD 1,130,000 by the Government of Japan.  

UNFPA, CCP Japan have worked with national partners in the West Bank and Gaza offering Palestinian women better chances for early detection, including at primary health care level, high quality care and enjoyable high quality life after starting treatment through:  

·         Improving women’s awareness on prevention of breast cancer and equip them with knowledge and skills for self-breast exam;

·         Enhance the capacity of primary healthcare providers in clinical breast exam and uptake of this service at selected facilities;

·         Increase capacity and uptake of breast cancer screening services in the West Bank and Gaza;

·         Improve coping of women living with breast cancer. 

“Japan is committed to reconstructing Gaza and alleviating the deteriorating socio-economic conditions for the people in Gaza. Therefore Japan is pleased to have supported this clinic aimed at strengthening women’s access to early detection and screening of breast cancer.” said Mr. Takeshi Okubo, Ambassador for the Palestinian Affairs and Representative of Japan to Palestine. “The Government of Japan, through this project, has reaffirmed its commitment to meeting the basic human needs in Palestinian society, particularly for the women, facing lots of challenges in the society”, he added.

 

“As the second leading cause of cancer deaths in Palestine, and the first for women cancers in terms of mortality and morbidity, we hope that this clinic will add a step in our fight against Breast Cancer”

said Mr. Anders Thomsen, UNFPA Representative to Palestine, “Early detection through educating women, training of health providers and strengthening screening capacity would improve management and early treatment start and provide women with better chances of survival”, he added.

“Within the prevailing context, access to health services remains a challenge to Palestinians, particularly in Gaza, this clinic is vital to facilitate access of women to Breast cancer screening services at the primary health care level which would reflect favorably on survival rates through early detection and shortened lead time of management”, said Dr. Gerald Rockenschaub, WHO Representative

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UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, delivers a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.

For more information or media inquiries, please contact:

Anders Thomsen, UNFPA Representative, occupied Palestinian Territory

Tel: + 972 54 9201341, thomsen@unfpa.org

Gerald Rockenschaub, WHO Representative, occupied Palestinian Territory

Tel: + 972 54-7179025, rockenschaubg@who.int

Asma Ibrahim, Representative Office of Japan

Tel: + 972 24 13120, asma@rm.mofa.go.jp