54 women from Nadonumai Village in Lami are getting free breast exams at the Sai Sanjeevani Medical Centre today.
While speaking at the Pinktober Morning Tea at the Medical Centre, Director, Dr. Krupali Tappoo says every year, about 250 to 300 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in Fiji.
She says mammograms are expensive and not cost-effective so early detection focuses on reducing the cost at later stages of diagnosis which could be fatal.
Minister for Women, Mereseini Vuniwaqa says women do not prioritise their own health and as a result, families are affected because children that rely on women and their loved ones at home are also affected.
She says women need to bring themselves to health centres and get examinations done.
Meanwhile, Minister for Education, Rosy Akbar who was also present at the Morning Tea says women need the support of the men in their families, including their partners, children, nephews, sons and brothers because this is not a battle that they should allow women to fight alone.
Akbar says if there are hundreds and thousands of women in Fiji suffering, then that would mean that we are heading in the wrong direction and we must ensure that awareness about breast cancer reaches every home, every girl and every woman.
She adds that we, as a society have broken the social barriers and taboos regarding talking about breasts which is why she is urging all the women to go to the health centres, clinics and to their doctors to get their check up done.
