Alejandra
de Cima
A student of Art History and International Relations at the American University of Paris, France, Alejandra de Cima has worked as a broker of graphic art and the promotion of contemporary and emergent Mexican art. In 2001 she was diagnosed with breast cancer and since 2002 she has dedicated herself professionally to altruistic work by creating and directing Fundación CIMA.
She is a columnist for Mexican digital media channels: La Lista and Revista Su Médico.
Fundación CIMA is a non-profit civil organization founded in October 2002, with the objective of having an impact on breast cancer mortality and morbidity in Mexico, through information, awareness on timely detection, training of health promoters and medical personnel, emotional support and patient navigation, as well as advocacy in public policies.
At CIMA we work to expand the knowledge about breast cancer and the importance of early diagnosis, as well as to facilitate access to quality health services.
Mexico has many realities, therefore, in Fundación CIMA we have made a commitment to marginalized communities, where we implement awareness campaigns while training the medical personnel and allowing women between 40 and 69 years of age to access clinical exams for both cervical and breast cancer.
In order to improve the quality of life of Mexican women, we strive to develop in them a participatory attitude that allows them to freely exercise their right to health, on the basis of recognizing themselves as the main managers of the attention and personal care.
With the aim of making the needs for women living with metastasis visible throughout Latin America, we have created a special program dedicated to this community: www.tantoporhacer.org is an on-line platform that serves as a resourceful site for patients, their families and caregivers.
23 years after its foundation, CIMA has benefited more than 630,000 people directly through the donation of medical and post-surgical supplies, diagnostic studies, training and emotional support, as well as transportation for patients among other services.
Fundación CIMA has positioned itself nationally and internationally as a leading organization. It is the founding member of the Mexican Coalition for Breast Health COMESAMA A.C. and a proud member of the International Union for Cancer Control (UICC) and the ABC Global Alliance. It is also a member of the following groups in Mexico: ContraPeso, Red contra el Cáncer, Red por la Salud, SaludHable, Juntos contra el Cáncer, Comisión para Impulsar la Atención Integral del Cáncer, Ocamis, Red por la Atención Integral de las Enfermedades Crónicas, CeroDesabasto, and the Red Nacional de Apoyo a OSC.
Throughout 23 years since the creation of Fundación CIMA, it has received awards such as the 2008 Latin Excellence Award in the Emotional Support category from the American Cancer Society, the award for the documentary "One More Day" at the Morelia Film Festival in 2005, the CLARES award for Social Responsibility in 2009 and the 2015 and 2017 SPARC award granted by the UICC for the development of the platform Tanto por Hacer (translated “So Much to Do”).