From adversity to advocacy

My name is Bahija GOUIMI, President & Founder of AMAL organization, based in Marrakech Morocco. I was diagnosed with CML, during pregnancy, a deeply overwhelming experience. I was terrified, not just by the cancer diagnosis but also by the possibility of losing my baby. I still remember the doctor telling me I had only 3 years to live.

At that time, there were no available treatments, patient organizations, or support systems. My family and I suffered from care centralization, In the same time I had to work, take care of my 3 kids, and spend more than 1 400 Km and 4 days every month to get my life saving treatment. During the long distances, I started writing and therapeutic Writing helped me to liberate myself and self-support. I am very proud that I published 4 books.

In clinics, most patients were illiterate, without health insurance, and no access to treatment or clinical trials, no cancer data or research. Stigma, poverty, self-medication, and traditional medicine made the situation even worse. So, I started talking to patients, to caregivers, to physicians, attending trainings, meetings and congresses.

And all this experience and the knowledge I had, motivated me to dedicate my life to found AMAL organization in Morocco. And The question “Why me?” evolved into “Why not me?” I realized that God wanted to use my story to help others. I learned to turn my pain into a purpose, my cancer story into a mission, and my challenges into strengths. This is how I transformed my personal journey into a collective one, a bigger mission.

In the occasion of the World CML Day 2022, we built and inaugurated DAR AL AMAL, a patient facility that allows cancer patients and their families, living far from the cancer center to receive treatment with dignity.

Advocacy is essential because NOTHING FOR US WITHOUT US. I learned to never underestimate myself, my voice and my story, because we can move mountains, inspire and empower others.