On The Move / +Intestino
The first pilot of a public health awareness campaign to improve the understanding of colorectal cancer and the importance of screening in Black, African Caribbean and South
Asian communities communities
The Challenge
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Early detection of cancers makes a dramatic difference to the patient’s chances of survival. 90% of patients, for example, make a full and rapid recovery if colorectal cancer is detected in its early stages. Only 14% of patients with a late, stage 4 diagnosis survive longer than 5 years. Yet, recent research shows that Black African and African Caribbean adults are statistically less likely to be aware of the key risk factors, of the warning signs and of the availability of CRC screening than white adults – meaning that they are less likely to benefit from early detection through screening.
Our Solution
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GHP launched this project to confront a major health inequality: the low uptake of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening within Black communities across Europe.
Building on highly successful initiatives in the US and South Wales, the programme brings education and screening directly into communities—removing barriers of fear, mistrust, and
inaccessibility that often prevent engagement with traditional health services. With support from the SYNLAB Foundation, Merck and Boehringer Ingelheim, the first pilot, branded locally as Mais Intestino, was delivered in four Portuguese locations in September 2023 when GHP worked in Lisbon with communities from Angola, Mozambique and Cape Verde Islands. This highly successful exercise achieved a 74% test return rate (over double the average return rate in Portugal) by taking screening and CRC education into these communities with a mobile unit supported and promoted by local community groups.
The long-term goal is to establish a robust, evidence-based model for CRC screening and education that can be adopted across the UK, Europe, and eventually in regions worldwide
where screening rates remain low.
Results of Mais Intestino are presented in the accompanying slide deck.
Achievements
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Conducting focus group research among Black communities, community leaders and influencers.
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Established our Expert Advisory Board.
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Identifying KPIs for Epidemiology & Public Health.
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Establishing practical partnerships with
relevant cultural leaders and groups within
project countries.
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Working with funding partners to establish a set of measures and targets for the campaign.
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Planning, managing and promoting a practical and scalable series of mobile screening and education events, including a robust process for supporting participants with positive test results.
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Click on the PDF icon, to read our project summary:
That's a Wrap!
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Watch the video below to see our mobile units in action.
Our partner, Europacolon Portugal, filmed this video at one of the screening events in Lisbon, Portugal.
