Women Stand Together

Georgia’s Club of Winner Women combats cancer with gender

awareness, solidarity, and civic engagement

The impact of the coronavirus

pandemic reminds us that to
prevent is better than to cure.
Among the groups most vulnerable
to COVID-19 are cancer patients.
Because of compromised immune
systems, they are at a greater risk
of more serious outcomes if they
contract the virus. As Georgia
fights to mitigate COVID-19, the
Club of Winner Women (CWW)
is dedicated to supporting women
with cancer by embracing a virtual
model of care and peer support.

According to Globocan 2018 data,

breast cancer affected 26% of all
female cases in Georgia; endometrial, rectal, and cervical cancer affected 7%. Georgia launched its first
National Screening Centre (NSC) in 2008 in Tbilisi. Its success led to the nationwide implementation of
screening programs for diagnosing breast and cervical cancer.

Ms. Tina Beruchashvili joined the NSC at its foundation. In 2010, she founded “My message to both
the Club of Winner Women (CWW). “It was a decisive moment for me. I women and men is to
realized that providing a possibility to the survivors to exchange on their realize and believe that
similar experiences was of the utmost importance”, says Ms. Beruchashvili, cancer is not a verdict”
now director of the CWW. The CWW was the first initiative of its kind in
-Tina Beruchashvili,
Georgia. Since then it has grown to become the leading platform for female
CWW’s director
cancer patients’ physical and psychological rehabilitation in Georgia.

EWMI ACCESS started cooperating with CWW in 2019, looking to expand and reinforce the club’s support
of female patients and survivors before and after treatment. High priority was given to physical and
psychological rehabilitation programs, as well as informational and cancer screening campaigns.

Currently the club has over 600 members and regional units and receives international awards for its
programs. But it is in the promotion of peer support as core value and practice that EWMI ACCESS finds a
kindred philosophy. The club does not merely provide direct assistance to their beneficiaries, but rather
recruits them so that they will, in turn, support other beneficiaries. The development and strengthening of
such peer solidarity network make possible for CWW values and objectives to reach and provide results in
large urban areas and rural municipalities.
EWMI ACCESS’ 2019 cooperation with
CWW led to enhanced empowerment of
diagnosed women and members of their
families, as well as an extension of the
program’s objectives and scope into the
Telavi, Zugdidi, and Kazbegi regions. Medical
personnel and cancer survivor women
collaborated in multiple informational and
peer solidarity campaigns to raise awareness
regarding the importance of early screening
for breast and cervical cancer and provide
physical and psychological therapy to affected
women.

Recently, in April 2020, EWMI ACCESS renewed this partnership with a new grant. As a result of the new
activities, CWW will expand into two new municipalities and implement physical and psychological support
programs in Sagarejo, Sighnaghi, Telavi, Gurjaani, Gori, Akhaltsikhe, Zugdidi, and Ozurgeti. Among numerous
planned activities, there are the organization of psychological rehabilitation sessions, the teaching to cancer
patients and survivors of how to make affordable post-mastectomy prosthetics and distribute them for free,
the preparation and nation-wide dissemination of informational material on the importance of cancer
prevention and early screening.

EWMI ACCESS’ renewed faith in the CWW certifies the essentiality of providing post-surgery and post-
treatment rehabilitation, both physical and psychological, as well as providing effective reintegration into the
workforce for the strengthening of Georgia’s civil society and democratic values.

When asking Ms. Beruchashvili what makes her the happiest of being part of CWW, she remarks the
positivity of change being brought by gender awareness and solidarity: “Witnessing positive changes in the
way of communication, as well as in the appearance of these women makes me extremely happy.” It is
precisely from this consideration that the fight against cancer forms lasting bonds among women affected
both by the disease and the socio-economic stigma attached to it: cancer can be fought and can be defeated.
Those that have survived are taking action to inspire and support those who are still fighting, showing that
unity is the most powerful weapon against the disease. Even in the challenging situation that we all are living
in under COVID-19, the WWC women have been a beacon of solidarity, encouraging and inspiring one
another daily.