Venue: Colonial War Memorial Hospital
Minister for Health and Medical Services, Hon. Rosy Akbar;
Medical Superintendent CWMH;
Chairman of Oncology Committee CWMH;
Senior Medical Professionals;
Staff of Oncology Unit CWMH;
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 Pinktober Programme.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Breast cancer is the leading cause of death for women, aged between 55 to 59 years, even though it has been detected, at the early age of 15 years.
We are losing approximately 350 lives due to breast cancer every year. These deaths could have been prevented if through regular screening, early detection and treatment.
In fact, if detected early through self-examination and mammograms, the survival rate for most types of breast cancer would exceed 90 percent.
Hence, paying heed to warnings and advice from medical professionals is crucial in ensuring that breast 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 breast cancer in our country.
Through campaigns, such as Pinktober, the Society is raising a voice against this silent killer. This is to ensure that all stakeholders understand that breast 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 women 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 women’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. Women aged 40 and above should have annual mammograms and clinical breast examinations, women aged 20 to 39 years should have clinical examinations every three years, and all women as young as 15 years old, should conduct a breast self-examination every month.
Therefore in a big way, let us make this campaign the avenue for dialogue and public awareness to save women’s lives especially those already affected by the disease. But we still have much to do to match the courage of the PINKTOBER programme and to live-up to its vision of the day when all women are appropriately screened and when breast cancer is defeated, once and for all.
Ladies and Gentlemen
This sea of pink 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 pink represents victory and hope for the future. All of us here today know someone who has breast 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 pink, 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 woman, every man, every young girl and every well-meaning Fijian to raise awareness about this disease and hopefully one day, we’ll find a cure for this disease. 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 Ministry of Health and Medical Services, the Fiji Cancer Society, businesses and organisations for this great initiative and I wish you all the very best.
Vinaka Vakalevu. Thank You.
View PDF: Minister’s Speech – Launching of Pinktober Programme 2017