April 1, 2003
Mammovan Receives $100,000 Grant From Avon Foundation
The George Washington University
Medical Faculty Associates (MFA) Mobile Mammography Program has been
awarded a one-year $100,000 grant from the Avon Foundation Breast Care
Fund to support its work on this important health issue.
The only one of its kind in the area, the GW MFA Mobile Mammography
Program provides screening mammograms to women in the underserved community
six days a week. Made possible through a grant from the Cancer Research
and Prevention Foundation in 1996, the GW Mammovan has reached more
than 15,000 women with screenings and information about the importance
of early detection of breast cancer.
Many factors, ranging from fear to lack of a doctors recommendation,
keep women from practicing good breast health, says Jean M. Lynn,
program director of the GW Breast Care Center and Mobile Mammography
Program. There is a tremendous need to reach women with information
and resources. We are grateful that Avon shares this mission, and has
chosen to support our program.
It will fund two critical positions in the program: Josilu Portella,
assistant director of the GW Mobile Mammography Program also will serve
as the new Bilingual Health Educator, who will ensure that any patient
screened on the GW Mammovan has access to bilingual services. Kathleen
Mahar is the new director of patient support services and social worker,
who will ensure that if a diagnosis of cancer is established, women
will receive appropriate care and follow-up.
The grant is part of Avons mission to increase cancer awareness
by providing financial support to programs that deliver breast cancer
screening services to the underserved community.
Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women in the US and
the leading single cause of death overall in women between the ages
of 40 and 55, it is estimated that there will be 273,000 new cases of
breast cancer this year. Of that number, 3040 percent of breast
cancer deaths could be avoided if detected early enough.
We are the only mobile mammography van in the metro area,
says Patricia A. Bango, executive coordinator of the GW MFA. The
fact that we reach out to uninsured neighborhoods is one of the biggest
factors [the Avon Foundation] took into consideration. We can go to
places where women arent getting mammograms.
For more information on the GW MFA Mobile Mammography program, call
Bango at 741-3272. For information about the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade
and the Avon Foundation, visit www.avoncrusade.com and www.avonfoundation.com.
Send feedback to: bygeorge@gwu.edu