Our Mission
Cervical cancer, after breast cancer, is the single most common form of cancer with women under the age of 45. Globally, nearly 500.000 women are diagnosed of which half of them do not survive. Considering 80% of these women live in developing countries, these are usually young mothers who form the foundation of the household and are irreplaceable for the income of the family. When they pass away, the implications on family life and their community is catastrophic.
The harrowing fact is that cervical cancer can in fact be prevented and treated fully when diagnosed and treated early.
A cancer-free world
The Female Cancer Foundation (FCF) was founded from the ideal to fight cervical cancer globally. Not an Utopia but a realistic goal, which can be reached by local screening and treatment of women, creating awareness in the local community (through education and information) and research. Everything FCF does is creating a sustainable change in the local government and community, so that they can continue the fight against cervical cancer. This is ensured through the Train-the-trainer principle; local healthcare workers gain knowledge and experience which they can share within their local communities.
History
Female Cancer Program Foundation, known as Female Cancer Foundation as of 2011, was founded in 2006 in Leiden and was an initiative from the partnership in the 80’s between the departments Gynecology, Pathology, Immunohematology and Clinical Epidemiology from the Leiden Universaty Medical Center in The Netherlands (LUMC).
This partnership was founded from the ideal to globally fight and eradicate cervical cancer. Based on this conviction, in the 90’s, several hospitals in countries where there is a high incidence of cervical cancer were approached. So far, through the LUMC, FCF has engaged in long-term, structural partnerships with fellow institutions in South America (Suriname), Africa (South Africa, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Zambia, Sierra Leone, Uganda) and Asia (Indonesia, Bangladesh, Nepal).
Small but Smart
With a small team, a large group of volunteers and an entirely unpaid board, we are able to achieve a large outreach through smart partnerships and existing infrastructures.
From the vision that at least 80% of the funds should be spent on the projects, the Female Cancer Foundation strives for a minimal ‘organization’ in the Netherlands with two part time employees.
Download our Remuneration policy
Besides the board, FCF has a fixed number of advisors, volunteers and a committee of recommendation. They dedicate themselves entirely on a voluntary base to the Female Cancer Foundation.