QCOSTARICA — The goal of a collaborative effort between public and private institutions is to provide assistance to over 5,500 women affected by breast cancer in Costa Rica.
The Banco Nacional (BN) joined this week Alianza por su Salud (Alsalus) that already includes the Caja Costarricense del Seguro Social (CCSS), the Hospital Clínica Bíblica, Auto Mercado y Fundación Aliarse.
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Since this alliance began, it has performed more than 50,000 mammograms on women in priority areas for the CCSS, between 2012-2023, with a mobile mammogram.
“51% of the BN client portfolio is made up of women. They have been able to take advantage of the specialized services provided by the Bank to finance their business and personal projects. We know that in addition to financial health, physical well-being and the emotional are vital to progress. For this reason, we joined Alsalus because it gives thousands of women the possibility of detecting breast cancer in time, the incidence of which is one of the highest in Costa Rica,” said Silvia Chaves, director of Sustainability at the BN.
As part of this alliance, it is proposed to have a second mobile mammography unit and with it the capacity of Alsalus will be strengthened to reach communities outside the Greater Metropolitan Area, which face geographical, cultural and socioeconomic challenges.
“We are delighted to announce the expansion of our efforts, from a focus on access and equity, we are working towards the possibility of incorporating a second mobile mammography unit. Thanks to the support of our ally, Banco Nacional, we are one step closer to bringing early detection and preventive medical care for more women throughout the country,” added Henry Cedeño, Alliances coordinator at Fundación Aliarse.
Laura Brenes Retana, director of the Social Action Program at Hospital Clínica Bíblica explained the importance of the program and its scope:
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“For Hospital Clínica Bíblica it is of utmost importance to focus its efforts on health promotion and disease prevention programs. We are very aware that, in Costa Rica, breast cancer continues to be the most common malignant tumor among the female and the one that takes the most lives.
“In response to this situation, we feel very honored to be part of the ALSALUS Alliance, which, over 12 years, has fostered the social commitment and shared vision among all its members, to generate actions that directly impact the reduction of the mortality rate. Not only have we facilitated access to a mammogram for women in their own community, but this effort is accompanied by awareness-raising and educational spaces, which promote patient self-care and the importance of having periodic check-ups.
“The best scenario to fight breast cancer is timely screening, thereby minimizing more women being exposed to complex, aggressive and in some cases even life-threatening procedures. A comprehensive and early approach promotes better adaptation in the family, social and spiritual environment of the patients.”
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“Public-private partnerships are key to the sustainable development of the country. For more than eleven years, ALSALUS has allowed Auto Mercado, its clients and suppliers, to contribute to the early detection of breast cancer in priority populations identified by the CCSS. I hope more companies look for these mechanisms to contribute in a solid, sustained way and with verifiable achievements,” commented Ethel Maldonado Herrera, head of Sustainability and Social Responsibility at Auto Mercado.
For 2024, the goal is to perform 5,500 mammograms, an objective established in coordination with the Cancer Technical Commission of the CCSS, according to the country’s epidemiological needs and priorities.
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