Prioritising breast care beyond the month of October

The month of October is dedicated to breast cancer screening and awareness creation.

This initiative aims to educate individuals about the importance of early detection and treatment, as well as to promote regular screenings that can save lives.

Breast cancer awareness initiatives align particularly with stainable Development Goals Three (SDG3), which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all. Because breast cancer affects women, making awareness campaigns crucial for promoting gender-specific health initiatives.

Breast cancer initiatives also contribute to women's health rights and access to healthcare services, aligning with efforts to achieve gender equality and empower all women consistent with SDG 5.

Various organisations and health professionals work tirelessly to provide resources, support, and information to those affected by breast cancer, highlighting the significance of self-examinations and mammograms.

Churches, mosques, NGOs and corporate bodies all come on board to campaign and offer free screening services at different levels.

Breast cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women globally, with approximately one in eight women diagnosed in their lifetime (Thompson et al, 2019).

Early detection

Early detection through mammography significantly improves survival rates, with localised breast cancer having a 99 per cent five-year survival rate when detected early.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month serves as a crucial reminder of the ongoing efforts needed to combat this disease and emphasises the importance of community involvement in awareness activities.

By fostering partnerships among various stakeholders, we can enhance outreach and ensure that more individuals have access to vital screening services.

Also of interest in October is the celebration of the girl child, a day first marked in 2012. This observance seeks to raise awareness of the rights and challenges faced by girls around the world.

It emphasises the need for equal opportunities in education, health, and social development while advocating against discrimination and violence.

 The celebration encourages communities to reflect on the progress made and the work still needed to empower girls, fostering a brighter future for all.

The observance serves as a reminder that empowering girls is essential for achieving gender equality and improving societal health outcomes.

Awareness

Together, these two observances in October highlight crucial issues affecting women's health and empowerment, reminding us of the importance of awareness, advocacy, and action.

As we draw the curtains to the end of the month of October, I want to draw attention to all stakeholders not to bring the education, screening, and advocacy on breast cancer and advocacy for the girl child to an end but rather intensify it all year through.

Early diagnosis is fundamental to effective breast cancer control. When detected in its initial stages, and with appropriate diagnosis and treatment, there is a strong likelihood that breast cancer can be successfully treated.

As we conclude the month of October, I emphasise the importance of ongoing efforts to keep both breast cancer awareness and the rights of girls at the forefront of our societal priorities.

This commitment will ultimately contribute to better health outcomes and greater empowerment for women everywhere.