Annual Report 2006

31
Beit natan continues to run the mammography
screening encouragement project
among ultra-Orthodox women with the
assitance of the ICA. The program is built
on a personal connection – woman to
woman; Beit Natan interviewers undergo
special training, forging connections with
ultra-Orthodox women over the age of 50
according to healthcare fund lists. Ties have
been forged with thousands of women in
this project and there has been a 16%-18%
increase in the rate of compliance.
Colorectal Cancer
For over 10 years, the ICA has been adopting
the recommendations of the World Health Organization
and the International Union against
Cancer (UICC) regarding the importance of
screening populations at high risk for developing
colorectal cancer. The program combines
public education within the community and in
the workplace. Aiming to promote awareness
as to the importance of early detection and
to raise the test compliance rate, the ICA has
been financing special activity at three centers
which have presented a program of excellence
to detect high risk population, while conducting
training activity for professional and educational
staff for the general public.
In 2006, the program was conducted at the
following medical centers: Assaf Harofeh in
Tzrifin, Meir in Kfar Saba, and Poriah medical
center in Tiberias..
The above medical centers were requested
to operate according to recommendations
formulated at the consensus meeting sponsored
by the Ministry of Health, the ICA, and
the Israel Medical Association, with specialists
from abroad participating. The recommendations
established the necessity of targeted screening
for early detection of colorectal cancer among
the healthy population over the age of 50, as
well as the need to conduct educational activity
among professionals and the general public to
detect families and groups at high risk.
Even when everything
seems to be o.k., you
should be certain about it.
Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
For the past three years, in early March, the ICA
announces the inception of Colorectal Cancer
Awareness month. This event, held in Israel,
and throughout the world, is officially declared
at a special press conference, with the leading
experts in the field of digestion and Ministry of
Health representatives in attendance. During
this month, the ICA conducts an extensive
educational campaign through all public media
channels. This advocacy campaign includes TV
public service announcements tailored specifically
for this subject in Hebrew, and Russian,
taking part in various radio broadcasts, an
open expert hotline on Galei Tzahal (IDF radio
station), as well as advertisements in the local
and national newspapers, in Hebrew, Russian
and Arabic (for more on activity during this month
please see Chapter on Public Education and
Information).
The slogan chosen to lead ICA's educational
campaign is "Colorectal Cancer, you don't see
it, you don't feel it until it explodes. Have you
reached the age of 50 Early detection can
save lives, you should get tested!"