With the theme “Highlighting a grave global challenge to secure a healthier happier world!”, A charity group called ‘Cancer UK-Salone, organised a two-day event in commemoration of the “Pink Ribbon Day’.

Pink Ribbon Day is a day dedicated to highlight the struggles and successes in the long determined fight to defeat breast cancer.

The occasion which culminated in a large gathering at the Pavilions Shopping Centre in Waltham, London, attracted a cross section of community members and included High Commissioners, Ambassadors, Mayors, healthcare professionals and cancer survivors.

The programme started on Friday with visits to highly frequented public spots such as community pubs and hairdressing salons.

The awareness-raising occasion which came to a close on Saturday 22nd October consisted of self-examinations and general teaching exercises accompanied by a Question & Answer session.

On this final day there were statements from various dignitaries including H.E. Dr. Morie Komba Manyeh, Sierra Leone’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, who spoke, with deep empathy, on the scourge of cancer and underlined the need for everyone to support the commendable efforts being made by CANCER UK-SALONE and by so many other organisations and individuals around the world.

In his speech Dr. Manyeh identified breast, cervical and prostrate cancers as the most prevalent types both in the UK as well as in Sierra Leone, pointing out that low income countries such as Sierra Leone experience far higher mortality rates due to lower ratios of screening and screening facilities.
Dr. Manyeh applauded Cancer UK-Salone for raising awareness about a disease that affects thousands of people every year and he encouraged everyone to go for regular screenings as “early detection saves lives.”

Other speakers at the occasion included His worshipful, Cllr. Paul Seeby, the Mayor of Broxbourne, who read the opening statement. There were also statements from Tina Davies OBE OOR, the CEO Cancer UK-Salone, as well as from Mrs. Seeby, a Breast Cancer Champion and Survivor. The general goal is to rivet public attention on the subject of breast cancer.

During these talks and interviews it was highlighted that breast cancer also affects men and recommended that lifestyle changes can have positive impacts on the quest to prevent or minimise ailment.

According to findings by Cancer UK-Salone, “In 2020, 11.7% of all cancers diagnosed, {globally}, were female breast cancer, making it the most common cancer worldwide”

Statistics also indicates that “although the disease incidence in Subsaharan Africa seems lower, mortality rates are disproportionately high in comparison to high-income countries”.

CREDIT: Abdulai Braima, Information Attache, SLHC- London