While 2023 is only a few steps away and the excitement of a new exciting year engulfs us, we must take a moment to reflect on the incredible year 2022 has been. The FMCI has had a busy but enriching year due to the challenges and opportunities. Since the organization’s inception in 2020, our dedicated team has worked tirelessly in collaboration with various stakeholders to achieve our goals and mission which are mainly engaged itself in improving the cancer situation in Mauritius by providing medical equipment to treat cancer in hospitals, as well as financing cancer patient treatments and raising awareness about cancer among the population. The team would like to take you on a journey back to an intense year in 2022, where we could once again count on the public unwavering support, donations, and sponsors from stakeholders, and the population.
Our organization has reached some significant milestones since its inception, and we couldn’t be more proud of these accomplishments. From diverse cancer patient treatment sponsors to the birth and growth of the FMCI branch in the United States, we are continuing our efforts to propel the association and lend a helping hand to the cancer community. This year, we increased the importance of cancer awareness by educating the public about what cancer is, its symptoms, treatments, and early detection. To confront the population with our island’s cancer reality, we have presented statistics that expose the cancer situation.
4th of February – World Cancer Day
On the 4th of February, the World Cancer Day was observed around the globe to join together a whole nation in this ongoing battle against cancer. We took this opportunity to remind the cancer community what cancer is not…
What Cancer Cannot Do…
Cancer is so limited
It cannot cripple love,
It cannot shatter hope.
It cannot corrode faith
It cannot destroy peace.
It cannot kill friendship,
It cannot suppress memories.
It cannot silence courage,
It cannot invade the soul.
It cannot steal eternal life,
It cannot conquer the spirit.
The FMC’s goal is to constantly remind the cancer community that cancer is only a chapter in their life and that this battle can be won with help. Cancer can affect anyone, regardless of gender. Genital cancer requires special attention because it affects both men and women, but in different ways. For women, genital cancers include cancers of the vulva, vagina, cervix, uterus, and ovaries, and for men, penile and testicular cancer. All of these cancers can have a variety of effects on function, particularly sexual function. We explored this in one of our blogs this year because it is still unknown to many people.
While the FMCI provides financial assistance to patients, we also recognize that cancer patients require moral support and guidance as they adjust to their new normal after a cancer diagnosis. This Weekend year, in 2 of our blogs, we have elaborated on the Emotional Stages of Cancer; How To Cope With Them? And Living With Cancer; Turn Your Pain Into Power. Besides raising awareness, we want patients and their relatives to have sufficient information to go through this battle.
2022 – Gratitude
The FMCI is pleased to announce the sponsorship of cancer patients’ treatment in 2022. We are delighted to share some heartfelt words from one of patient’s with you:
I would like to thank the association for its financial support. I knew that I had an intervention planned and the foundation took charge of part of the costs. Today, I would like to express to you all my gratitude and gratitude for your generosity.
FMCI USA 2022 Retrospective
On Saturday, April 16th, FMCI USA participated in a Wellness Retreat exclusively dedicated to women in Columbus, Ohio. The theme of the retreat was “Women Empowering Women”. Dr. Sheereen Jaulim, President of FMCI US, led a workshop on Cancer Awareness in the United States and Abroad. According to Dr. Jaulim’s observation, just before the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, cancer caused approximately 10 million deaths, or one in every six deaths, making it the world’s leading cause of death. Dr. Jaulim shared,
Many cancers are curable if they are diagnosed and treated early and efficiently.
Dr. Jaulim shared a personal experience of losing a close friend to cancer and stated, “I am sure that many of us here have experienced the loss of a family member or friend.” When we receive such news, we miss precious moments, and a portion of our grins seems to go away. ” Mrs. Noreen Palmer, FMCI USA Secretary, presented on leadership and highlighted examples of successful businesses that successfully guided the growth of their operations by aligning their values with leadership. Ms. Donielle Hall and her miniature horse “Bucky” presented a workshop on “Horses and Mindfulness.” “Bucky”, the miniature horse, was a surprise special guest and attended the event.
FMCI USA has also successfully benefited from online donations through its newly launched website. We are proud to see the growth and expansion of our branch in the USA in a collaborative environment.
2023: What’s the plan?
The new year brings new resolutions and new opportunities. For a new beginning in 2023, the FMCI will continue to support cancer patients and lend a helping hand to improve the national cancer situation in Mauritius. We believe that the new year will provide another opportunity for the FMCI to assist cancer survivors in making their stories successful and inspiring. We strive to make a significant difference in Mauritius’ cancer fight.
In 2023, the association will continue to:
Support all cancer and cancer-related activities, such as raising and investing the Association’s funds to assist and ensure the best possible life-saving treatment and care for financially needy cancer patients in Mauritius (both locally and internationally);
Provide medical equipment for cancer treatment in Mauritius hospitals; Support for cancer research and development in Mauritius pertaining to treatment, care, and side-effects;
Provide ongoing information resources about cancer patients and cancer-preventive lifestyles for prevention and control;
Provide emotional support to cancer patients and their relatives.
We are also excited about organizing a series of cancer events and campaigns in 2023, which will take place online through our digital channels, to educate the public on what cancer is, what its symptoms are, and what the best preventive measures are. We want to raise massive awareness and provide ongoing, valuable cancer information. In 2023, the FMCI looks forward to joining you in the fight against cancer.
