Venue: Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources – HQ
Permanent Secretary – Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources;
Deputy Secretary;
Senior Staff;
Staff of Fiji Cancer Society
Distinguished Guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Bula vinaka and a very good morning to you all.
It is indeed a pleasure to be here today and be part of this auspicious occasion – the launching of the Movember Campaign for the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources, Industry, Trade and Tourism.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer affecting men over 50, and the risk increases with age. About 1 in 7 man will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime.
In Fiji more than 20 prostate cancer cases are recorded each year. These cases could be prevented through regular screening, early detection and treatment. Prostate cancer can be a serious disease but most men diagnosed with prostate cancer do not die from it. In fact, more than 2.9 million men in the United States who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point are still alive today.
Hence, paying heed to warnings and advice from medical professionals is crucial in ensuring that prostate cancer can be detected early and the correct treatment is undertaken.
I, therefore, urge you all to consider the disease as a national health priority.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The commitment shown by the Fiji Cancer Society in raising awareness on this disease is beginning to turn the tide against prostate cancer in our country.
Through campaigns, such as Movember, the Society is raising a voice against this silent killer. This is to ensure that all stakeholders understand that prostate cancer, amongst other diseases, such as heart and kidney disease, diabetes and Non-Communicable Disease, is becoming a leading cause of death.
Ladies and Gentlemen
Today, more and more men know how important it is to get smart and get screened. This campaign should speak to our conscious, so that we could join hands and help save even more Fijian men’s lives.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
With detailed statistics and analysis on the disease readily available, coupled with the development of ever-more effective diagnostic tools and through the development of innovative new treatment, we will surely get the upper hand against this disease.
However, early detection remains the key. That is why initiatives and programs on screening are so important.
Therefore in a big way, let us make this campaign the avenue for dialogue and public awareness to save men’s lives especially those already affected by the disease. But we still have much to do to match the courage of the MOVEMBER programme and to live-up to its vision of the day when all men are appropriately screened and when prostate cancer is defeated, once and for all.
Ladies and Gentlemen
This sea of blue stirs mixed emotions. I feel a twinge of sadness because of what this color has come to represent – lives lost, and lives changed in drastic and dramatic ways, because of cancer. But I also feel joy and pride, because every speck of blue represents victory and hope for the future. All of us here today know someone who has prostate cancer or who has survived it, or who became a victim. This is all the more reason for all of us, to support this worthy cause.
The Fijian Government is surely behind this campaign, considering that we share everything in common as a nation and people. What affects you, affects the Government. We have a common identity and so we need to take collective action against whatever or whoever threatens our existence.
In fact, as long as there is a reason to wear blue, there should be a reason to take action to raise awareness about this emerging health catastrophe that threatens our country.
It is therefore the obligation of every men, every women, every young boy and every well-meaning Fijian to raise awareness about this disease and hopefully one day, we’ll find a cure. We can see the finishing line on the horizon and hand in hand, we will cross it.
Ladies and Gentlemen
With those words, I once again thank, the Fiji Cancer Society for raising awareness on cancer and I urge us all to support this great initiative.
Vinaka Vakalevu. Thank You.
View PDF: Minister’s Speech – Launching of Movember Programme 2017