THE Ministry of Health, in a collaborative effort with the Pan-American Health Organisation and the Guyana Fashion Weekend, Saturday held an awareness walk to sensitise the public to breast cancer.
The walk was in observance of Breast Cancer Month, being held under the theme, “Protecting Our Women, Preventing and Fighting Breast Cancer.”
The walk saw hundreds lining the streets in white and pink t-shirts as they walked from the Umana Yana in Kingston, continuing along several streets in the city, and to the City Mall, Regent and Camp Streets.
Minister within the Ministry of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, said that the day’s activity was in recognition of Breast Cancer and making society more aware of its deadly prevalence.
He noted that the Health Ministry is collaborating with international communities to not only promote breast cancer awareness, but to place emphasis on early screening for breast and cervical cancers.
In January of next year, Government, through the Ministry of Health will be dedicating one month to cervical cancer awareness.
“We are already building on the momentum of the Ministry’s slogan which is ‘Protecting our Women’. We want you to be good ambassadors, and as such, we held several lecturers for young people and for the beauty queens who are participating with the Guyana Fashion Weekend, so that they will become educated ambassadors on breast cancer,” he said.
The Health Ministry is also pushing for the development and awareness of the Visual Inspection using Acetic Acid (VIA), for the early detection of cervical cancer.

Testing for VIA was done at the City Mall Saturday, free of cost, and the Ministry of Health is encouraging persons to come forward and be screened at health institutions where it is offered.
Meanwhile, the Pan-American Health Organization’s newly appointed country representative to Guyana, Dr. Beverly Barnett, assured that her organisation will continue to collaborate with the Health Ministry in the battle against breast and cervical cancers and other known prevalent diseases that affect Guyanese.
She also reiterated that since people are always going to fall ill, then prevention becomes an absolute, especially in the battle against breast and cervical cancers.
Prior to the activity, the Health Ministry hosted a walk and rally on October 19, which commenced at the Square of the Revolution and culminated at the East La Penitence Health Centre.
Booths were also available, allowing attendees access to information about breast and cervical cancers and self-examination. (GINA)