Educating the Educators on Good Breast Health

A new initiative from Breast Cancer Ireland (BCI) which aims to educate primary teachers on the importance of good breast health launches tomorrow with the backing of the INTO and the support of insurance brokers, Cornmarket.  The Breast Health Education and Awareness Programme, which BCI launched in 2017, is being extended with the aim of visiting every primary school in the country starting from this school year. A team of six Outreach Nurses and Coordinators will travel throughout Ireland educating teachers and support staff on how to perform a self-breast examination and highlighting for men and women the signs and symptoms to recognise.

Over the past three years, BCI have presented to over 5,000 Transition Year students and their teachers in secondary schools around Ireland. This year with the backing of Cornmarket, funding for two additional outreach coordinators was facilitated.  The aim of this latest extension to the programme is to encourage primary teachers to become more breast aware and involves Breast Cancer Ireland’s nurses and outreach co-ordinators going out to visit staff rooms at lunch time and after school, with a short presentation promoting good breast health. This complimentary service now covers Leinster, Munster, Connaught.  The team will continue to visit businesses and the wider community as part of their remit.

Cornmarket has been administering the Salary Protection Scheme for INTO members for over 35 years. Their research found that a large percentage of claims related to cancer, in particular to breast cancer, and therefore teamed up with Breast Cancer Ireland and INTO for this project.

CEO Aisling Hurley comments, “We are delighted to be in a position to extend our outreach programme to INTO members and support staff. Our aim with this initiative is to educate women and men to know the signs and symptoms of breast cancer so if an abnormality arises, they’ll detect it a lot quicker – ultimately lives will be saved.”

General Secretary of the INTO John Boyle adds, “‘We are delighted to partner with Breast Cancer Ireland and Cornmarket to provide a national Breast Health Awareness and Education Programme for INTO members and support staff in primary schools throughout the country. Early detection of breast cancer can save lives and we hope this scheme will help educate and empower our members.”

Using a special mannequin showing the eight symptoms of breast cancer, the coordinators plan to educate teachers and support staff on how to recognise the symptoms and on how to perform a self-breast examination. They also encourage teachers to download Breast Cancer Ireland’s free Breast Aware App.

Ivan Ahern, Director, Cornmarket comments, “Early detection of breast cancer can save lives and the main focus of the programme is about driving awareness. The effect of this programme in the short and longer term will be hugely significant and has the potential to really make a difference to the lives of INTO members and their colleagues. Cornmarket is proud to partner with Breast Cancer Ireland and the INTO on this exciting new initiative.”

Schools and organisations can get involved at the Education Awareness section on www.breastcancerireland.com or on Cornmarket.ie/INTO-breast-health-programme