MY BREASTS AND UTERUS MATTER TOO 

Dear members, partners and allies, 

This October, for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Moelle épinière et motricité Québec (MÉMO-QC) and Breast Cancer Action Quebec (BCAQ) unite our forces to put an end to the invisibility that women with disabilities face in the Quebec health system. Driven by a determination to change this, we began our province-wide mobilization on October 2, 2023 to raise awareness among elected officials, the media and the general public about this cause touching hundreds of thousands of women. 

The beginning of the campaign has been marked by amazing support from feminist associations in different fields for which we are truly grateful. In fact, MÉMO-QC and BCAQ as well as more than twenty local, regional and national feminist community groups signed the press release published on October 2nd. 

We are speaking out against the difficulties encountered by women with disabilities in the health system in Quebec. We are calling for real change in the gender-specific care that women with disabilities receive but which does not meet their needs. The care they receive is often unsuitable, inadequate and inappropriate in several respects. 

During this campaign, we are undertaking a range of actions: 

  • October 2 - publication of the press release and launch of the campaign 

  • From October 3 to November 7 - signing of cards to send to Ministers Christian Dubé, Lionel Carmant, Sonia Bélanger and Martine Biron. 

  • Throughout the campaign - Publication of photos on social media in support of our campaign (follow us on social media to find out more). 

  • November 9 at 10:30 am - Mobilization at the corner of Maisonneuve and Union streets in Montreal (McGill Metro). Check out the Facebook event for more information!

In support of women with disabilities, we invite you to share information from the campaign widely and join us in each of our actions.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SENDING CARDS TO MINISTERS 

  • Copy the text below into your email 

Subject: My Breasts and Uterus Matter Too! 

Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign from October 2 to November 9, 2023 

Moelle épinière et motricité Québec (MÉMO-QC) and Breast Cancer Action Quebec (BCAQ) denounce the invisibility that women with disabilities face in terms of specific care for women. 

For October, breast cancer awareness month, we support their demands and their efforts. They are demanding across the territory of Quebec: awareness, prevention, diagnosis and treatment services for their female bodies that take into account the specific needs related to their disability. 

We ask you to support these women so that their invisibility stops and they have real access to breast cancer screening and to all the gynecological, oncological and perinatal care that they need anywhere across Quebec. 

  • Select the card to send to ministers as an attachment. 

  • Write your first and last name at the bottom of your email 

  • Select the email addresses of the following ministers: Mr. Christian Dubé, Mr. Lionel Carmant, Ms. Sonia Bélanger and Ms. Martine Biron and copy them to the recipient box: 

ministre@msss.gouv.qc.ca

ministre.responsable@msss.gouv.qc.ca

ministre.deleguee@msss.gouv.qc.ca

ministre@mri.gouv.qc.ca 

  • Important: please copy MEMO-QC and ACSQ using cc at the following addresses: 

alngombennkoth@moelleepiniere.com; 

maria.anney@acsqc.ca 

  • Send your message and you're done! 

If you need help, please contact: 

Adèle Liliane Ngo Mben Nkoth at 514-341-7272 ext. 235 or 1 -877-341-7272, alngombennkoth@moelleepiniere.com 

Ama Maria Anney at 514-758-2081, maria.anney@acsqc.ca