On April 11, 2024 Blackbird Global Foundation (BGF) founder and CEO Teresa Rule signed an historic partnership with Mayor Johnny Ford of the World Conference of Mayors, Inc. (WCM) to bring breast cancer awareness to The Gambia. Developed with the help of Dr. Sandra Ross, Ed.D., this program will improve the chances of Gambian women surviving breast cancer and save thousands of lives.
According to the World Health Organization, two of the three pillars of breast cancer survival are early detection and timely diagnosis. That is why the BGF-WCM awareness program is focused on empowering women with the knowledge to pursue their breast healthcare. This knowledge includes the signs and symptoms of breast cancer, the importance of early detection and treatments, and details about treatment options, including how to seek them locally, because access is key. In The Gambia, villages with populations over 400 have primary health care where a village health worker and a traditional midwife deliver health care to the village. Among their responsibilities are home visitations as well as community health education. Out of the 102 secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities, however, only 52 have the equipment necessary to perform breast cancer screenings. That is why breast cancer screenings will also be a major part of the BGF-WCM breast cancer awareness program.
The Gambia, like other developing countries, has limited healthcare resources. Many rural villages do not have the necessary infrastructure to support intricate medical equipment, but there are options. From at-home personal breast exams to thermal imaging to mammograms, there is no one, singular way of detecting abnormalities in the breast. This program intends first, to work with local officials to ensure that options are available, and second, to ensure that Gambian women are aware of those options and feel safe turning to them as soon as they suspect a problem.
Key to this collaboration is the ongoing partnership with Africa Health Link and their health screening kiosk, hPod-T. This revolutionary IoT-driven kiosk includes Thermalytix capabilities to screen for breast cancer and does not need a hospital or even health clinic – it can be deployed virtually anywhere. BGF is preparing to deploy 250 hPod-T kiosks throughout The Gambia. This innovative screening method is age-agnostic, benefiting women under 40 for whom mammograms are not recommended, is low cost, and has no side effects. Furthermore, the equipment is a full 3 feet from the patient, delivering a no-touch, no-see screening that preserves the woman’s dignity and privacy.
Together, Blackbird Global Foundation, the World Conference of Mayors, Inc., Dr. Ross, and officials throughout The Gambia, will develop a holistic breast cancer awareness program that will provide life-saving, culturally sensitive information to women. Breast cancer has been a global health concern for decades, and it will continue to be for decades to come. This collaboration is an exciting foundation for a long future collaborative work with The Gambia. Only together can we overcome this persistent disease and stride toward a brighter global future.