As part of activities to mark the 2017 breast cancer month, the Think Pink Malawi initiative for early detection of breast and cervical cancer, recently flagged off the 2017 edition under the theme “Early detection saves lives”. The event which commenced on the 7th of October and is to run through the month recorded activities such as breast cancer awareness walk, screening exercise for women, as well as a breast cancer awareness campaign. The program also had as its guest of honour the wife of the country’s vice president Mary Chilima.
Think Pink Malawi is a breast cancer awareness initiative that was set up in October 2014 by former Miss Malawi Blandina Khondowe, who is a breast cancer survivor, with support from equally passionate friends.
Speaking in an interview, Think Pink Malawi founder Blandina Khondowe said people walked to celebrate survivors, support those fighting and honour those that lost the fight.
Cock Pit Lounge donated K300, 000 to purchase breast and cervical cancer diagnostic tests for underprivileged women.
According to Khondowe “The main mission is to spread the message that early detection of breast cancer saves lives. Women make up 52% of the population in Malawi and have little or no access to information on diseases like breast cancer. After awareness campaigns, we offered free screening for both Cervical and Breast cancer.”
Several donations were made to each districts campaign towards diagnostic treatment and the support of underprivileged women.