15 December 2020

Over the last few months, thanks to funding from the Coronavirus Community Support Fund, our West Midlands team have been working hard to produce leaflets and short informative films in 6 local community languages. The leaflets and films raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer and explain how to access support on our new community language phone lines. You can find full details of our campaign here.

In order to create these resources, we have worked with a number of fantastic local community organisations. One of these organisations is the Yemeni Community Association (YCA) in Sandwell, Birmingham, a community-based organisation that represents and meets the needs of Sandwell’s diverse communities, particularly the Arabic speaking communities.

Ameena Muflihi, Community Development Officer at YCA and founder of Let’s Talk Hope Sandwell Cancer Support group, a supportive online community with over 400 members, was instrumental in helping to inform and create the Arabic leaflet and film.

A former cancer patient herself, Ameena is passionate about raising awareness about cancer, within and outside her own community. We spoke to Ameena about the impact she thinks these resources will have.

“I have always said that "knowledge is power" and it is. There are so many resources out there to tell us what to look for BUT for some there is a language barrier. Of course, there are some leaflets in different languages, but some people can't read or write in their own mother tongue. Those are the people that get missed out, so not getting the knowledge they need to possibly save their own lives or the life of someone they know.

Ovacome producing these language videos, telling people the signs and symptoms, builds bridges and knocks down those walls. Giving communities that knowledge and power to possibly save lives. Early detection is so important, and these videos make it possible to understand and get help if you are concerned. Then having a hotline that people can reach out to and speak to someone in their own language makes it a lifeline.

It was an honour being part of this project, the whole community have become so proactive in getting the message out there, near and far. Ovacome listened and acted, and from the women in all the communities involved, we would like to thank you.”