Lebanon – Lebanese organize solidarity march in support of breast cancer patients

Location: Beirut, Lebanon

Duration: 00:02:24

Voice: Natural

Source: A24 in Lebanon

Restriction: A24 subscribers

Date: 02/10/2022

Storyline:

The Barbara Nassar Association for Cancer Patient support organized a march of solidarity with women with breast cancer in Lebanon, coinciding with Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The march, entitled “We don’t want lights, we want medicines”, started in front of the emigrant statue towards Martyrs’ Monument square. Solidarity rallies were also held in France, Tunisia, and Egypt.

Corruption in state institutions prevents cancer patients from obtaining their medicines amid absence of oversight and accountability. Most patients cannot afford cancer drugs, which are set at record prices compared to other drugs, which forced them to give up on death.

Sirine Mokhtar, cancer survivor, explained to A24 the difficulties she faced in obtaining medicines, adding “Medications are not available in pharmacies in Lebanon, and if they are available, they are priced according to the black market, and therefore not all patients can obtain them.”

Shot list:

Soundbite (Cancer survivor – Sirin Mukhter):

“I came in solidarity with those I know and I don’t know who are unable to get cancer treatment from social insurance, health insurance or associations, the reason is the lack of cancer drugs. Cancer medicine is only available on the black market, I wonder how it got to the black market. Health centers and pharmacies are empty. There is no legal way to get medicine. It is only available on the black market at very high prices. About 17,000 people have breast cancer in Lebanon. This is genocide. We don’t want money, we want medicine.”