In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Food For The Poor Jamaica (FFPJ) donated 361 breast prostheses, valued at approximately J$2.6 million, to the Jamaica Cancer Society and its social outreach arm, Jamaica Reach to Recovery, recently.
These breast prostheses were handed over at FFPJ's head office located in Ellerslie Pen, St Catherine, on October 14. The breast prostheses were sourced by Food For The Poor Inc in the United States and are for women who have lost their breasts to cancer.
The team from the Jamaica Cancer Society was elated to receive the donation.
Offering gratitude on behalf of the Society, the executive director, Yulit Gordon, said, "As the country recognises Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease, the timing of this donation is perfect."
"We will ensure that the beneficiaries are those who need it most. To be able to equip these women to enhance their lives and provide them with some amount of comfort is a blessing and we are truly grateful."
Gordon further stated that the Cancer Society has seen a significant increase in the number of women accessing their available mammography screening services since the start of the month.
Carolind Graham, chairman of Reach to Recovery was just as grateful for the donation, as "there are so many cancer survivors who have done surgery, but have no opportunity to restore their original profile, because when a woman loses a breast, it doesn't define who she is, but it does affect how she now sees herself."
She also noted that many women are unable to afford the prosthesis so this donation from the FFPJ will make a major difference in their lives.
Speaking on behalf of FFPJ during the handover, Susan Moore, Director of Recipient Services, said the organisation was happy to donate the 361 breast prostheses.
"Food For The Poor Jamaica recognised that there was a great need in Jamaica for breast prostheses, so when our head office, FFP Inc, contacted us, we immediately thought of contacting the Jamaica Cancer Society to receive this donation," she said.
"We also recognised that a prosthesis could be quite costly to cancer survivors, and Jamaica Reach To Recovery would have direct contact with most of these needy individuals.
"Hence, contact was made, and today Food For The Poor is happy to donate these well-needed prostheses to these two entities during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This is a significant demonstration of our interest in the most vulnerable groups in society."
http://jamaica-star.com/article/news/20151023/food-poor-donates-361-breast-prostheses
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