BREAST CANCER ADVOCACY SUMMIT IN BELARUS

C O N F I D E N T I A L MINSK 000812 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2017 TAGS: PHUM KDEM SOCI BO SUBJECT: BREAST CANCER ADVOCACY SUMMIT IN BELARUS Classified By: Ambassador Karen Stewart for reason 1.4 (d). Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Ambassador and Emboffs attended the Third Biannual Eastern Europe and Central Asia Breast Cancer Advocacy Summit in Minsk on September 15. The summit, which received Democracy Commission funding, gathered the full spectrum of breast cancer specialists from the region and the United States to discuss recent advocacy efforts in their countries. Participants agreed on the need for further efforts to educate the public about the disease, and to develop strategies to induce their governments to take stronger action to combat breast cancer. Many participants noted the stigma associated with the disease in their countries and that women hesitate to go in for screenings and to seek treatment. End summary. Advocacy -------------- ¶2. (U) The main Belarusian attendees were Irina Kozulina (breast cancer advocate and wife of jailed former presidential candidate Aleksandr Kozulin),Dr. Tanya Soldak of CitiHope International, and Dr. Leonid Putyrski, the Chief Mammologist at the Ministry of Health's Mammological Center. Presenters explained advocacy, since it is a new concept in Belarus. Medical and non-medical experts discussed initiating advocacy efforts, obtaining financial support, and overcoming obstacles. ¶3. (U) Key areas for advocacy in Belarus include inducing the government to encourage women to seek screening, to fund equipment and support for cancer detection, and to provide more accessible treatment. There is only one mammography center in Belarus, with no mobile facilities. Beyond infrastructure and government support, Belarus needs breast cancer education. Many Belarusians still blame the victim for contracting the disease through their own negative behavior. Conspicuous Lack of Media Coverage -------------- ¶4. (C) Unfortunately, media outlets largely ignored the event, which was partially funded by post's Democracy Commission to support activist networking in civil society. Media coverage could have helped breast cancer education efforts. On the positive side, the lack of attention from the authorities allowed attendees to participate without hindrance. Some participants suggested that Kozulina's active participation in the summit caused the conspicuous lack of media coverage, though others faulted Putyrski, a government employee, who decided not to use his position to drum up media attention. Comment -------------- ¶5. (C) Breast cancer advocacy remains in its nascent stages in Belarus, and despite the active participation of international NGO's the issue is still not receiving sufficient attention and support from the government. Although the government propaganda apparatus often highlights the health care system as an advantage of life in Belarus, authorities do not dedicate enough resources to breast cancer. The government may not want to promote awareness of the disease because of a perceived connection between it and Chernobyl, the effects of which the government has been actively trying to minimize. Or authorities may perceive advocacy as too much interference into government business, especially when a prominent opposition activist is involved. The conference attendees, however, seemed energized to expand the advocacy concept. Stewart