Hundreds walk to raise awareness about breast cancer
“Early detection saves lives” was the chant as hundreds took to the streets of Georgetown on Sunday to raise awareness on breast cancer as part of the activities to observe Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The march, which was organised by the Public Health Ministry, commenced and culminated at Parade Ground on Middle Street, Georgetown.
Leading the march were Public Health Ministers Volda Lawrence and Dr Karen Cummings, along with First Lady Sandra Granger; Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and his wife, Sita; and several cancer survivors.
Cancer survivor Desiree Edghill said that the walk differed from similar walks in that it allowed cancer survivors to feel embraced. “When people see survivors walking, I think that gives them some hope that I can fight this and I think what was
Some of the participants at Sunday morning’s breast cancer awareness walk
good about this walk also is that there was a lot of education happening on the way … so, I think it is important that we continue to walk and continue to let people know that early detection saves lives,” Edghill underscored.
Also, a survivor, Public Health Minister Lawrence – who described herself as a ‘cancer warrior’ – said raising awareness was important, since many women experienced the symptoms, but were afraid to let people know or face the issue head-on.
“When we come out in the public and we show them that even a minister or anyone – it does not matter who you are, but you can have cancer and you can be a survivor, you can war against cancer. So, this is to encourage [persons] to come out and do their breast checks,” Minister Lawrence is quoted as saying by the Department of Public Information (DPI).
Dr Cummings, the Minister within the Public Health Ministry, noted that the huge turnout demonstrated that more people were aware of the issue. The Minister said, “We certainly want to reduce the morbidity and mortality of cancers in general and more importantly, breast cancer, which is very common among women. So, I know that persons will learn to examine themselves every month so they can save their lives.”
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Governments, civil society groups and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) use this annual observation to raise awareness about the disease, and garner funds that will go towards research on treatments and a cure.
