Guyana: Ministry of Health hosts Breast Cancer Awareness Walk and Mini Health Fair

Guyana: The Ministry of Health, Health Sciences Education division on Friday hosted a Breast Cancer Awareness Walk and Mini Health Fair at the Nurses Annex, located in Kingston, Georgetown in observance of Breast Cancer Awareness month. The Breast Cancer Awareness Walk and Mini Health Fair were geared at sensitising the Kingston community on breast cancer and other cancers that can affect both men and women while emphasising the importance of early screening.

Dr Frank Anthony, Minister of Health who took time out of his busy schedule to participate in the walk commended the organisers of the event and addressed the participants on the importance of screening for cancers. While encouraging early screening, he highlighted the various services provided by the Ministry of Health to combat this dreadful disease.

In an inviting comment during the health fair, Deputy Director of Health Sciences Education, Chandroutie Persaud expressed her gratitude to all who were present at this morning’s health walk. She noted that that even though the event was aimed at sensitising residents of Kingston, other organisations and government entities showed their support by participating in the health walk.

Self-Breast Examination, Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA), Nutrition and Counseling, Adolescent Health Education, Blood Pressure Testing, High Blood Pressure (HB) and Random Blood Sugar (RBS) Testing, and Blood Donation Drive were among the services provided at the Mini Health Fair.

Meanwhile, the Coordinator of the Medex Training Programme Ms Sarah Daniels said that “it was the first time Health Science Division hosted a health walk and mini health fair where students from the Government Schools of Nursing worked on raising awareness on breast cancer among men and women”.

• Daniels on behalf of the Health Sciences Education also expressed her gratitude to all who participated in this morning’s health walk, especially the staff and officials from the Ministry of Health, Public and Private Sector offices within the Kingston Community, Survivor Cancer patient Sister Penelope Layne (Coordinator – Nursing Programme) and other Senior Officers and staff from the Health Sciences Education.