Raising awareness, encouraging prevention: EUBAM Rafah and GABC mark “Pink October” in Jericho
EUBAM Rafah and the Palestinian General Authority for Borders and Crossings (GABC) jointly organised a “Pink October” activity to promote breast cancer awareness and underline the importance of early detection and regular screening.
The preventive health initiative brought together representatives of both organisations, health professionals and women from the local community in Jericho. It provided an opportunity to raise awareness about breast cancer, encourage women to undergo regular check-ups and reaffirm the shared commitment of EUBAM Rafah and GABC to health, dignity and well-being.
In his opening remarks, Ismael Abu Jaber, Deputy Governor of Jericho and the Jordan Valley, stressed the importance of raising awareness about breast cancer and detecting the disease at an early stage. He welcomed the initiative, highlighting its role in encouraging women to undergo regular screenings and take an active role in looking after their health.
Giacomo Querini, Deputy Head of EUBAM Rafah, emphasised the importance of gender equality, human rights and non-discrimination in the mission's work. "As a European Union Common Security and Defence Policy mission, EUBAM Rafah is guided by principles including gender equality, human rights and non-discrimination. These values extend beyond operational activities and are reflected in initiatives that foster a supportive and respectful professional environment," he said.
The activity also highlighted an important dimension of professional life: recognising the people behind the roles they fulfil every day. In crisis management environments, where resilience, professionalism and dedication are essential, staff health and well-being are fundamental to creating the conditions in which personnel can carry out their responsibilities effectively.
Beyond raising awareness, the initiative offered women an opportunity to access medical examinations and receive practical encouragement to take care of their health.
Among the participants was Nagham Shadeed, a 38-year-old woman from Jericho, who was having her first mammogram as part of the activity. She was one of 24 women who benefited from the free examinations provided by the mobile clinic of the Augusta Victoria Hospital in East Jerusalem.
"This is my first mammogram, and I find this offer very useful. This is one of the best activities I have attended so far," she said.
For 42-year-old Fida Saliman Groof, the experience marked her second mammogram. She underlined the importance of regular health check-ups as part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
"I like to have all my regular medical check-ups. It is very important to stay healthy," the mother of four children said.
In addition to the mammograms, approximately 20 women benefited from clinical breast examinations conducted by healthcare professionals from the Augusta Victoria mobile clinic.
These individual experiences illustrated the practical value of bringing health services closer to women and creating opportunities for them to access examinations in a supportive environment.
According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health's Annual Health Report 2025, 626 new cases of breast cancer were registered in the West Bank during the year. While this figure highlights the continuing importance of breast cancer awareness and early detection, it represents newly registered cases rather than the total number of women currently living with the disease.
EUBAM Rafah expressed its sincere appreciation to everyone who contributed to organising the activity and thanked GABC for its partnership and active participation. It also acknowledged the contribution of the Augusta Victoria mobile clinic and its medical professionals in making the examinations available to women in Jericho.