Latest update April 18th, 2025 8:12 AM
Avon commits to sustaining breast cancer awareness
– gets financial support from Digicel
With a keen focus on raising breast cancer awareness, the Avon Committee Help Fund (ACHF) yesterday announced the commencement of its ninth annual Breast Cancer Awareness activity for October 2014. This is in keeping with an observance recognised locally and internationally as Breast Cancer Awareness month.
Digicel’s Public Relations Officer, Vidya Brijlall-Sanichara, (left) hands over a cheque to ACHF’s Chairperson, Juditha DaCosta.
And according to ACHF’s Chairperson, Ms Juditha DaCosta, breast cancer awareness is an issue that should remain at the fore of everyone’s minds. This is in light of the fact that the disease is one that can inflict a mother, wife, sister or even friend.
Reports suggest that a small percentage of males have been inflicted with the disease as well.
DaCosta’s comments were forthcoming even as she spoke at a forum venued at Digicel’s Barrack Street, Georgetown, headquarters on Tuesday.
During its annual Breast Cancer Awareness observance, Avon is usually in receipt of immense financial support from the mobile company and Tuesday was no different.
According to DaCosta, Avon is this year observing Breast Cancer Awareness month under the theme “See the difference, make a difference.” In this regard, she noted that the Avon Fund has moved to heighten its awareness and education programme for 2014.
The ACHF Breast Cancer Awareness programme, she disclosed, is one that has been and will continue to provide access to free screening services, including mammograms for high risk women who are medically under-serviced or are uninsured.
In 2013 the Help Fund, with the concerted efforts of its programme partners and the winning support of business entities, was able to raise funds to create the opportunity to motivate more women to have the test done on a timely basis.
And according to DaCosta, for 2014 the ACHF will continue its efforts whereby, it will seek to cover the cost for 150 women to be screened, a significant increase from 2013. The proposed screening and testing will be conducted at the Cancer Institute situated at East and Lamaha Streets, Georgetown.
ACHF ushered in its Breast Cancer awareness activities with the wrapping of trees along Camp Street with the signature Breast Cancer pink ribbons. But according to DaCosta, the official engagements will start on Sunday (October 19) with a church service at 17:00 hours set for the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Brickdam, Georgetown.
“We also have a wear pink day on Friday October 24, in collaboration with business entities such as Scotia Bank on Robb Street, Decor and Gift Galore on Sheriff Street and Medi Care Pharmacy on Hincks Street,” informed DaCosta on Tuesday.
She related too, that the private sector and other organisations are welcome to support the efforts by observing the wear pink day even as she pointed out that “the pink ribbons and attire are a symbol of your commitment to raising the awareness of breast cancer and lending support to the patients diagnosed with the disease.”
Among the activities will be an educational symposium at 17:00 hours on Wednesday October 22, at the Pegasus Hotel, while an awareness walk will be slated for October 25 at 06:00 hours that will start and culminate at the Middle Street, Georgetown, Parade Ground. DaCosta disclosed too that the efforts of ACHF are keen on raising awareness since “women survive breast cancer every day through early detection and treatment and it is with this hope that we continue our fight against breast cancer.”
Moreover, she noted that the body will “continue our public outreach programme to raise the awareness of this disease among women in Guyana and promote the use of breast self examination as a method for early detection.”
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