Who We Are
Our Story
and Values
Our History
AEBCF Founder Rhoda Weeks-Brown, former International Monetary Fund (IMF) General Counsel, is herself a breast cancer warrior and survivor. She self-discovered a large breast lump while in her late 40s, and was diagnosed as having an aggressive, locally-advanced form of breast cancer. Because she lived in the U.S. and had good medical insurance, her treatment journey included a powerful and low side-effects clinical trial drug that rapidly eliminated the tumor; chemotherapy and other state of the art therapies to further fight the cancer; advanced surgical procedures; and post-treatment therapies to reduce the risk of the cancer’s return.
After emerging cancer-free, however, Rhoda discovered the dearth of options available for women facing a breast cancer diagnosis in low-resource countries like Liberia, her birthplace. She resolved to dedicate maximum time and energy after retirement to help improve the situation for women dealing with breast cancer in those countries. The AEBCF seeks to implement that commitment.
Notably, the Foundation is named in honor of two of Rhoda’s aunts, Aurelia and Edith, who were themselves diagnosed with breast cancer at the prime of their lives, in the 1950s and 1970s, respectively. There were few effective treatment options available anywhere then and, very sadly, they both ultimately succumbed to the disease. The Foundation honors the lives and legacies of Aunty Aurelia and Aunty Edith, as it seeks to increase access to the screening and treatment options available to fight breast cancer today.
The Gap we Seek to Fill
The past 30-40 years have seen significant breakthroughs and improvements in the screening, pharmaceutical and surgical tools available to fight breast cancer. Particularly in higher income countries like the U.S., standard protocols have moved away from radical surgeries to more targeted and less invasive procedures; from drugs that treat most breast cancers the same, to targeted treatments linked to the cancer type and that also often have less severe side effects. Breast cancer can also now be diagnosed at ever-earlier stages, greatly increasing the likelihood of long-term survival. Further, the quality of life continues to improve for patients with breast cancer and death rates for the disease have declined. In the United States, for example, the breast cancer death rate has fallen by 44% since 1989, averting over half a million deaths, and the 5-year survival rate is greater than 90 percent. [source]
It is a “tale of two worlds” however, as progress is not global. In Liberia and other under-resourced countries, a starkly different situation exists. Awareness and understanding of breast cancer is low and in most cases the cancer is discovered at late stages where little can be done to meaningfully fight the disease and achieve a successful outcome. Even when breast cancer is diagnosed at earlier stages, the available treatment options are often limited or prohibitively expensive for most patients. Not surprisingly, outcomes are dire, with breast cancer representing the second highest rate of death from cancer in Liberia, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), with a survival rate of around 45 percent. [source]
Our Approach
AEBCF seeks to reduce this disparity by pursuing a multi-prong approach to fight breast cancer in Liberia and other under-resourced countries. Recognizing the complex nature of the issue, the Foundation’s efforts span the full spectrum of breast cancer awareness, screening, diagnosis, treatment and care, as these together are essential for success. Key elements include:
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Raising breast cancer awareness and educating the public about the critical importance of breast self-exams and other screening/diagnostic tools.
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Enhancing the ability of frontline doctors, nurses and other medical practitioners to incorporate breast exams into their routines.
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Contributing financial support to help qualifying patients pay for screening, chemotherapy, other treatments and surgical procedures.
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Expanding access through other means, including programs to bring in doctors, nurses and other medical experts to help deepen the bench.
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Partnering with pharmaceutical companies, hospitals and other donors to expand needed drugs, equipment and supplies for breast cancer patients in under-resourced countries.
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Coordinating closely with the range of other stakeholders including government agencies, medical and women’s health groups and other non-profit organizations.
The task is herculean and there are many challenges, but these challenges can be overcome. And we are convinced that the women (and the small number of men) hit with this dreadful illness too will overcome! We need your help, however, to make this happen!
Board Members
& Officers
Rhoda Weeks-Brown
Rhoda is Founder/Chair of AEBCF and Founder/CEO of Cape Palmas Global Advisors LLC.
Michel Dioubate
Michel is a compassionate and board-certified Family Physician with over 10 years of experience in primary care.
Mark J. Hathaway
Mark J. Hathaway, MD, MPH, is a board-certified OB/GYN who was a member of the Washington Hospital Center’s (WHC), OB/GYN faculty from 1997-2013 in Washington, DC.
Raphael Koikoi
Rev. Raphael K. Koikoi is a pastor, practical theologian, and missional leader whose ministry is shaped by a conviction that the Church must be actively present and transformational in the lives of marginalized people and communities.
Jamesetta Smith
Mrs. Jamesetta Teewon Smith is a Registered nurse and Public Health practitioner with over 19 years of professional experience in clinical settings and public health programming.
Margaret Neal
Margaret P. Neal, DDS, MAGD has an extensive background in healthcare, community service, and organizational leadership.
Vittorio Weeks
Vito Weeks is a finance professional with designations of Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), and Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE).
Kimmie Weeks
Kimmie Weeks is an internationally acclaimed Liberian activist and humanitarian.