The Ministry of Defense, the Office of the First Lady, the National Health Service (SNS) and the Association of Wives of Officers of the Armed Forces (ADEOFA), kicked off this Friday the “Uniting Wills” campaign against breast cancer.
During the month of October, these institutions will develop a series of conferences and medical operations throughout the country, to raise awareness about the prevention and early detection of this disease.
The activity was attended by the First Lady Raquel Arbaje and the Minister of Defense, Lieutenant General Carlos Luciano Díaz Morfa, who accompanied Mrs. Wendy Santos de Díaz, president of ADEOFA.
In her remarks, the First Lady announced that for the first time in these jointly organized Preventive Days, men will be included for the early detection of Prostate Cancer.
“We need more action and less fear. Dominican women should know that they are not alone. We have to put an end to the false beliefs that breast cancer only attacks women over 45 years of age; it is a disease that is appearing very frequently in young women,” said Arbaje.
He added that throughout this month they will be dedicated to creating awareness about breast cancer and will intensify the campaign so that more and more women go to hospitals to have their mammograms done.
Bariatric Surgeon Oncologist General (R) Ricardo José Domingo Mateo, FARD, gave the first of these talks at the Ministry of Defense compound, with the objective of orienting and creating awareness in the members of the Armed Forces about this disease, in an activity organized by ADEOFA.
The opening remarks were made by the President of ADEOFA, Mrs. Wendy Santos de Diaz, who thanked the presence of those who attended the invitation and expressed that “These days will be held in 10 provinces of the country, where the Office of the First Lady and the Armed Forces through ADEOFA, will join efforts and wills to raise awareness among Dominican women about the importance of early detection of breast cancer.
The activity was attended by representatives of the Officers’ Wives Associations and the Gender Equity Directorates of the Army, Navy and Air Force of the Dominican Republic, and special guests, such as the Director of the Maternal and Child Hospital, Dr. Martin Ortiz, representing Dr. Mario Lama, Mrs. Rosa Gomez de Mejia and Nancy Handall de Mejia. They were joined by the directors of the military hospitals.
