CRC Health Equity Grants
GCCA grants members financial assistance to address colorectal cancer health equity issues in their communities.
2024 Application is Open
April 1 - May 15
The GCCA CRC Health Equity Grants program seeks to provide financial assistance to fill specific unmet needs in underserved communities around the world. Priority is given to members in low-and middle-income countries (LMIC) that build an evidence-based impact, design and test solutions, or interventions. Other examples of funded projects may include—but are not limited to—exploring local needs, validating feasibility of activities, and testing initial ideas.
Areas of focus include equity driven screening programs, educational opportunities, patient support, and policy initiatives to increase equitable access to screening, testing, and treatment. Grants awarded range from US$1000 to US$5000.
All GCCA members are eligible to apply for a CRC Health Equity Grant, and membership fees are only applied to corporate members.
2023 CRC Health Equity Grants awarded
Thank you to all the GCCA member organizations that applied for a CRC Health Equity Grant. We have selected 9 awardees in 7 countries. The 2023 CRC Health Equity Grant recipients are:
Instituto Oncoguia hosted an event at their annual Oncoguia Policy Forum in September 2023 to highlight service and access inequalities and challenges faced by patients living with colorectal cancer from diagnosis to treatment and care.
NCCF held its annual health education event, Ijoya, in September 2023. The event uses dance, exercise, and wellness talks to promote CRC awareness. Addressing issues of access disparities, they offered free and subsidized CRC screening tests through Ijoya, mobile screening through a “Bowel Screening Bus”, and supplies for CRC patients, like ostomy bags and disposable gloves.
SAID NGO fully financed 32 diagnostic colonoscopies for patients who had a positive FIT screening to address equity problems in access to colonoscopy.
TOS held a colorectal cancer session at the Tanzania International Cancer Conference in September 2023. They provided a forum for multidisciplinary collaboration, contributed to healthcare professional knowledge, and addressed health disparities in CRC screening, treatment, and care.
IGET is providing support from nutritionists and psychologists to patients suffering from gastrointestinal tumors. Their investment in prehabilitation care aims to increase survivorship of CRC.
Project PINK BLUE is creating a documentary short film called "Blood in My Stool" on the health inequities in colorectal cancer control in Nigeria. Through the stories of Nigerian CRC patients, they are putting a face to colorectal cancer to advance awareness, knowledge, and communication about access to CRC screening.
St. Cyril Cancer Treatment Foundation is implementing a program called Every Colon Matters through which they are promoting colon cancer awareness, as well as financing 70 FOBT screening tests and indicated diagnostic colonoscopies for Nigerians living in low- and middle-income communities.
WOCACA is carrying out a needs assessment of CRC prevention, screening, treatment, and survivorship in the Lilongwe District and developing a policy brief for advocacy and awareness building.
PASYKAF is developing and administering a training course on stoma care to oncology nurses. By improving the quality of oncology nursing care, they aim to improve stoma patient self-care education and, therefore, quality of life.
2023 CRC Health Equity Grants press release
SAID NGO (Lebanon) is breaking down barriers through awareness campaigns and providing free colorectal cancer screenings, supplies, and support. The current political situation in Lebanon makes it practically impossible to raise the needed funds to support the local community. GCCA provided financial support for SAID NGO to further its mission.
Kenya Society for Hematology and Oncology held a preceptorship for general surgeons in Kenya to learn colorectal cancer surgical techniques and better understand the challenges colorectal cancer patients face due to surgery. GCCA was a significant supporter of the program providing financial assistance to the organizers as well as speakers.
Man Up To Cancer held their first “Gathering of Wolves”, which brought together an international audience of men, and addressed the gaps in healthcare for men who have cancer, and for those who love them. As a sponsor, GCCA ensured a robust retreat for participants.
Todos Juntos Contra o Câncer (All Together Against Cancer) (Brazil). This large conference is held annually in Brazil and is intended to address all issues facing citizens of Brazil and its cancer community. GCCA provided financial assistance to ABRALE, the NGO that hosts the conference and also supported a local event focused on equitable access to cancer biomarkers.