THE MINISTRY of Health, in an effort to reach out and use new methods of awareness, will be using the upcoming annual Fashion Weekend to create a platform for Breast Cancer and Cervical Cancer Awareness this month.
Minister within the Ministry of Health, Dr.Bheri Ramsaran, partnered  with Coordinator of Guyana Fashion Weekend, Ms.Sonia Noel, to facilitate a two day workshop for designers, models and pageant coordinators, at Ramphal House, to educate and raise awareness.
“We are using the power of fashion, the power of beautiful healthy, women to create a platform for advocacy for Breast Cancer Awareness Month,” Ramsaran said at the workshop yesterday.
According to him, the partnership will also be extended to include sections of the Christian community, particularly musicians from the Ruimveldt Life Improvement Centre, with the aim of using music as a tool to project the message of breast cancer awareness.
Alluding to the benefits of this initiative, he said, “We will use this tool to eulogize and not degrade women, and it may even develop into an annual competition.”
The Minister also highlighted that the Ministry recently collaborated with the Heritage Committee of Region One (Barima /Waini) to sponsor a delegate from the Heritage Pageant in Mabaruma, Ms.Annaleigh Gonsalves, whose chosen platform was ‘Breast Cancer Awareness’.
“She is now an advocate, testimony that the Ministry is partnering with persons in the Hinterland communities as well,” he said, adding, “We selected this location because we recently erected a hospital there that cost close to $250M.”
He indicated that the awareness drive has been intensified as it was discovered that breast cancer is a hidden threat among Guyanese women, and by spreading awareness, senseless loss of lives will be averted.
The two day workshop included tutorials on the significance of early detection by Director of Regional Health Services, Dr.Narine Singh, who stressed the importance of identifying the early risk factors, as “early detection saves lives.
The participants also benefited from lecture by Nurse Sabella Yussuf on breast examination and general prevention, where she emphasized the need for self examination and highlighted the necessary techniques to be used.
In addition, the platform was also used to stress the threat of cervical cancer, which, Dr.Ramsaran indicated, is a threat that is not recognized enough among women in Guyana.
In her presentation on cervical cancer and the new VIA (Visual Inspection Using Acetic Acid) method advocated by the Ministry of Health, Nurse Patricia Singh highlighted the signs and symptoms of the disease as well as the various methods of treatment available.
“This is all associated with beauty contests and we will only remain beautiful and healthy if we are aware of the dangers,” Dr.Ramsaran posited.