ICA Promotes Education and Information

ICA invests tremendous efforts and resources in promoting public education that will lead to early detection and prevention. ICA focuses on the possibilities of early detection of those prevalent cancers that may be prevented or diagnosed at early stages. Prevention through education is a major tool in the fight against cancer.

Education and information activities involve extensive use of media, advocacy campaigns, publication and distribution of material in Hebrew, Russian and Arabic. ICA also organizes seminars, workshops, lectures and professional training sessions. Additionally ICA operates a special tele-information service- Telemeida which provides information on all aspects of cancer in Hebrew, Russian and Arabic. This is also a resource center offering up to date literature and international links.

Our "Tele-information" telephone service is another means in which we offer the public comprehensive information on all aspects of cancer in Hebrew, Arabic and Russian. In addition, the ICA's Cancer Resource, and Information Center provides assistance in seeking further knowledge through access to international databases and professional publications. In this way, we are proud to serve as Israel's leading source of information in the fight against cancer.

Breast cancer is a widespread malignant disease affecting one in every 8 women in her lifetime. But, with early detection, approximately 90% of the women afflicted can be cured and here too, the ICA leads the fight against breast cancer, addressing the matter on all fronts. To raise awareness and help cope with the disease ICA launches campaigns in local newspapers, in all female oriented magazines in Arabic, Hebrew and Russian. TV channels broadcast advertisements and information. There is a website devoted to this topic with information and free of charge available to all interested.

We initiate and implement nationwide screening programs that have proven to be very beneficial; additionally, we purchase advanced diagnostic systems. We strive to raise public awareness and compliance to undergo the recommended examination by running information & education programs for the general public, as well by providing essential professional training for health care personnel.
The ICA initiated a unique National Mammography Project and through our "Invitation to Life" project, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Healthcare Funds, women in the target age group are personally invited to undergo mammography examinations free of charge. The national mammography screening and "Invitation to Life" projects, along with ongoing information campaigns, helped significantly raise the level of awareness and compliance rates.

To promote the early detection factor, ICA has financed the purchase of a mobile mammography unit-Michal. Its operation is advertised in all the various media channels encouraging women of all sectors to get tested. The mobile mammography unit has managed to raise the awareness of screening in Arab villages, new immigrant and ultra orthodox neighborhoods of a low socio-economic status. Studies indicate a significant reduction in the gaps between the sectors since its operation.

In the Early Detection of the Colorectal Cancer ICA has also promoted public education and information. ICA initiated a national program for early detection of the colorectal cancer which is of the main causes of mortality in Israel.  

Smoking is the number one cause of death in Israel and around the world and due to this disturbing fact, ICA places special emphasis and works with different age groups to reduce smoking and its harmful effects. ICA conducts various anti-smoking activities focusing on children and youths, manages media campaigns, initiates special events and projects, lobbying for anti-smoking legislation and offers smoking cessation programs. Our intense efforts have proven successful: smoking rates have dropped significantly from 42% in the 80's to 23% in 2008. 

ICA won first prize in the International festival organized by the UICC for its campaign against hookah smoking and won again the Israeli prize for best and most effective campaign with the "Shy Ones" commercial.

The 'Sunsmart' programs were launched to promote awareness and education to prevent skin cancer among children and youth.  The ICA addresses the entire population through mass media campaigns, by producing public service announcements and  stributing informational brochures on the subject. One of our major campaigns is implementation of Skin Cancer Awareness Week, first initiated by us in 1991 and carried  out annually in collaboration with all the Health Funds and The Association of Dermatologists and Plastic Surgeons. Throughout this special week, held in the beginning of the summer, hundreds of free skin cancer examination booths operate in public places throughout the country, providing examination free of charge to all of our citizens. Skin Cancer Awareness week since it was initiated, created a fivefold in the early.
The campaign includes TV and radio publicity, newspaper campaigns as well as dozens of information booths open to the public.Skin Cancer awareness week has increased early diagnoses of melanoma-a deadly cancer - by fivefold.