Who we are
FEMAMA, The Brazilian Federation of Philanthropic Breast Health Institutions, is a non-profit, Non-Governmental Organization, organized to bring a reduction in the breast cancer death rates in Brazil. Present in the majority of Brazilian states under a national coalition with other NGO's, influencing the creation of a unified agenda of public policies towards breast health care.
Femama was founded on July 22th, 2006 during the meeting Visao de Futuro 2006-2015 (View to the Future) by Imama, The breast health Institute of Rio Grande do Sul. There were 32 founding partners, from philanthropic institutions, private enterprise representatives, and volunteers from various parts of Brazil. The need to create Femama stems from the project Te Toca Brasil (Brazil Get a Grip) which is the union of institutions linked to fight breast cancer with aligned objectives.
Since its foundation, FEMAMA's focus has been to increase awareness to the medical community, the government and the general population to have access to information, guarantee access to mammograms, fight for mammogram quality, reduce the waiting time between diagnosis and treatment, and pool resources aiming to unify federal breast cancer policies.
The challenges have been enormous, the efforts and scope to deal with lack of information and effective public policies made FEMAMA a very unique patient's resource. Among many achievements we have had the approval of the Law 11.664/08, which insure an annual free mammogram, by the national health system (SUS) to all women over the age of 40.
Lear more about Femama and its work and be a part of the fight against breast cancer.
Mission
To influence public national health policy and related areas to guarantee universal access, care and its quality regarding breast health care, within the context of integral
Health and to fight for the constitutional rights of Brazilian women.
Vision
To support the development of political strategic action of all institutions committed in the fight against breast cancer while preserving their local and regional identities, in accordance to a shared national health agenda.
Directory Board
Executive directory board:
Presidency: IMAMA, The Breast Health Institute of Rio Grande do Sul,
Represented by Dr. Maira Caleffi
Vice - Presidency: Fundacao Maria Carvalho dos Santos, PI.,
Represented by Dr. Luiz Ayrton Santos Junior
Vice - Presidency: Uniao e Apoio no Combate ao Cancer de Mama, S.P.,
Represented by Ermantina Ramos
Treasury: Associacao das Amigas da Mama, PR, Represented by Valeria Cassia Lopes
Secretary: AMUCC, Associacao dos Portadores de Cancer, S.C., Represented by Jayce Schneider
Administrative Council:
Instituto da Mama do Rio Grande do Sul - IMAMA – RS:
Represented by Doutora Maira Caleffi
Fundação Maria Carvalho Santos – PI:
Represented by Doutor Luiz Ayrton Santos Júnior
Associação dos Amigos do CRIO - ASSOCRIO – CE
Represented by Ana Valéria Escolástico Mendonça
Associação de Combate ao Câncer da Grande Dourados ACCGD – MS
Represented by Virgínia Magrini
Instituto Humanista de Desenvolvimento Social - HUMSOL – PR
Represented by Tânia Mary Gomez
Centro de Integração Amigas da Mama - CIAM – AM
Represented by Joana Masulo
União e Apoio no Combate ao Câncer de Mama - UNACCAN – SP
Represented by Maria Eugênia de Campos Chiorino Lopez
Associação das Amigas da Mama - AAMA – PR
Represented by Valéria de Cássia Lopes
Núcleo Assistencial para Pessoas com Câncer – NASPEC – BA
Represented by Kátia Baldini
Rede Feminina de Combate ao Câncer em Alagoas – RFCC – AL
Represented by Maria de Fátima Canuto
Substitute Administrative Council:
Rede Feminina de Combate ao Câncer de Blumenau – RFCC-BLU – SC
Represented by Aglaê Nazario de Oliveira
Grupo para Motivação e Auto-Ajuda Renovadora – AMAR – CE
Represented by Laura Catarina Marinho Nogueira
Associação de Combate ao Câncer do Brasil Central – MG
Represented by Paulo Nogueira
Associação Brasileira de Portadores de Câncer – AMUCC – SC
Represented by Leoni Margarida Simm
Fiscal Council:
Associação Feminina de Educação e Combate ao Câncer – AFECC – ES
Represented by Telma Dias Ayres
Associação das Mulheres Atuantes de Paraíso do Tocantins – AMAP – TO
Represented by Josefa Araújo Silva Rodrigues
Elas por Elas Vozes e Ações das Mulheres – SP
Represented by Roseneide Ferreira da Silva
Presidency
The president of The Breast Health Institute of Rio Grande do Sul, IMAMA, and FEMAMA’s founder, Dr. Maira Caleffi is at the helm of both organizations since their beginning.
A militant in the fight against breast cancer, Dr. Caleffi, MD. is a Mastologist with a PhD in Molecular Biology from Vanderbilt University, TN, USA.
Our cause
Breast cancer is a global public health problem. It is the illness that kills most women in Brazil, and it is the number one cause of death among child bearing aged women. Each year INCA (The National Cancer Institute) estimates that 52.000 new cases are diagnosed throughout Brazil.
The number of new cases has also been increasing throughout the world, but in many developed countries there has been a steady decline in mortality rates. Unfortunately that is not our reality and all charts indicate that BC mortality rates in Brazil are on the rise.
Femama believes that it is possible to change this scenario. For such we need investments and improvements in access to information, to quality exams, treatment and rehabilitation. We are convinced that BC has 95% chances of cure if diagnosed early.
Our efforts and our fight are focused on early detection with the following priorities:
- 75% mammogram coverage
- 100% quality certification for SUS and private providers
- 30 days between first consultation and beginning of treatment
Dr. Maira Caleffi, Femama's president explains, all of Femama's actions have the objective to disseminate information and to mobilize our women to have mammograms, detect early stage diagnosis and for them to have appropriate treatment and rehabilitation. "The sooner they get to the diagnosis, the stronger their chances for cure will be" Dr. Caleffi guarantees.
You too can be part of this fight! Make your contribution.
If you are part of a NGO related to breast health, find out the requirements to become a Femama affiliate.
