The Cancer Association of Namibia (CAN) on Thursday launched its annual Pink Day initiative to commemorate and support the fight against breast cancer in the country.

With over 540 cases of breast cancer diagnosed each year in Namibia, it remains the most common cancer type in the country.

Speaking at the launch, CAN Chief Executive Officer Rolf Hansen said that a complementary women’s health clinic will be held over two consecutive days, on Thursday, 28 and Friday, 29 October, at the CAN centre, to honour women diagnosed with breast cancer and to raise awareness and funds to help prevent and/or treat breast cancer earlier to help save lives.

‘Screenings will include a free clinical breast examination and pap smear for Namibian citizens and/or permanent residents, with 150 women to be screened per day,’ he explained.

He noted that Namibia currently sees an annual average of 3 780 new cancer cases per year, with an increase of seven per cent annually over the last five years.

‘We continue to see an annual increase in cancers, particularly in women’s cancers (breast, cervical, and lymphoma), and women now account for more than 53 per cent of all cancers reported in Namibia,’ he said.

He also stated that CAN, as an organisation cannot be everywhere at all times, which is why it collaborates with the Ministry of Health and Social Services in training and capacitating their teams to carry on where CAN cannot.

‘The ideal would be a year-round continuous screening effort across the country, but we must use the ‘pink month’ movement to encourage women to get cancer screenings. Continue to support hope so that we can use what we’ve learned to become more effective and impactful in our communities so that we can build a future where cancer is no longer viewed as a plague or a death sentence, but as a treatable and survivable medical condition, ‘he stated.

The National Cancer Outreach Programme at CAN travels to all regions of the country each year to provide free cancer screening in local communities in order to raise cancer awareness.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency