The One Communications Pinktober “Make Your Move” Cancer Awareness Walk moved through the streets of Georgetown on Sunday, bringing together thousands of persons and several Government and non-governmental organisations. There were chants, and stories, and music and memories as attention was drawn to the disease that has impacted the lives of thousands here in Guyana.

Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony pleaded with Guyanese to get screened for cancer.

While applauding One Communications for consistently raising awareness on cancer, challenged Guyanese to do more by getting screened early and taking the necessary steps to fight cancer.  

“On the corporate side, we are always grateful for the work that One Communications has been doing. They are the ones who initiated this wonderful programme, and year after year, we have seen that this has been growing in strength and more people are getting sensitized. But we want you to not just come out on this walk, we want you to take action. Go and get screen,” the Health Minister urged those present. 

Early detection, he stressed, can saves lives. 

The Health Minister also said the Government, for its part, is working to decentralize cancer-related services. He said soon, mammogram machines would be installed at four additional hospitals to increase screening for breast cancer. 

“In Guyana, we have been changing the landscape for cancer. And among the things we have done for breast cancer is to make sure we can give people an opportunity to be screened early. So, in the public sector, we have only had one mammogram machine and we are changing that. So, by the end of the year, one of the things we will have is four additional mammogram machines,” the Health Minister explained. 

Those machines will be installed at hospitals in Linden, New Amsterdam, Suddie and Lethem. 

In 2020, there were 123 cases of breast cancer recorded in Guyana. In 2021, the number of cases jumped to 144, and further increased in 2022 186 cases.

While Sunday’s focus was on breast cancer, Minister Anthony used the opportunity to urge Guyanese to have their children ages 9 to 15 immunized with the HPV vaccine, explaining that in the case of women, it helps to prevent cervical cancer. 

After breast cancer, cervical cancer is the second most prevalent cancer among women in Guyana. The men present were also urged to get tested for prostate cancer. In Guyana, the PSA test is available for men. 

Meanwhile, a cancer survivor urged those battling cancer to stay strong. 

“From 1991 February to 1993 October I fought the good fight; I fought to stay alive for my babies, for my mother, my sisters but most of all I fought for me. And I am here, and I am standing in front of all of you, and I am telling you, it is not an easy fight. I had friends, my family, my two children, my husband, and I was very, very fortunate to be one of the America Cancer Society members. And I know it is different from there to here, but don’t give up,” the cancer survivor said. 

One Communications Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), Kerchelle Jn Charles thanked supporters of the fight against cancer for their continuous and overwhelming support. “Thank you for coming out, and thank you for being strong. Thank you for fighting the fight and thank you for surviving,” she said. 

 The cancer awareness walk was held in partnership with the Ministry of Health, the Champions of Hope Network, the Giving Hope Foundation, the Cancer Institute of Guyana, Guyana Cancer Society, and the Beacon Foundation.

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