Female owned, female run, and founded in 2006, the MEPS Well Woman Clinic has provided breast cancer and other health care services to over 75,000 women in Sierra Leone, especially the underserved. Through increased awareness, the number of women presenting to the Clinic with breast abnormalities has increased significantly over the years. With no mammogram machine however, the medical team is still limited in its screening and diagnostic efforts relying only on ultrasound. According to the American Cancer Society, “results from many decades of research clearly show that women who have regular mammograms are more likely to have breast cancer found early, are less likely to need aggressive treatment like surgery to remove the breast (mastectomy) and chemotherapy, and are more likely to be cured."

HACU believes that “where you live should not determine whether you live.”  HACU is therefore supporting the mammogram initiative of the Well Woman Clinic.  The goal of this initiative is to acquire a mammogram machine and install it at the Clinic so that it is fully operational and of service to the community.  In communities like Sierra Leone where stigma is still attached to Breast Cancer, access to early detection has become more important now than ever before because without prompt action, the small gains that have been made through educational campaigns will easily erode sending people back into their comfort zones of inaction, more late stage diagnoses, and deaths.

This year, our theme is "Pulling back the curtains: Unmasking the invisible."  While great strides are being made around breast cancer awareness, there is so much we don't know or talk about when it comes to surviving breast cancer.  THANKS to our steadfast and resilient community of survivors and thrivers who share our passion, our evening will be graced with meaningful conversation and heartfelt stories that inspire and educate.  We hope you can join us for an evening raising funds for this worthy cause at our very first event to be hosted in beautiful Pennsylvania.