Pink’October Event

In 1995 the then 189 UN member states agreed that

“In many countries, especially in developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, a decrease in public health spending and, in some cases, structural adjustment, contribute to the deterioration of public health systems. In addition, privatization of health-care systems without appropriate guarantees of universal access to affordable health care, further reduces health-care availability. This situation not only directly affects the health of girls and women, but also places disproportionate responsibilities on women, whose multiple roles, including their roles within the family and the community, are often not acknowledged; hence they do not receive the necessary social, psychological and economic support. Women's right to the enjoyment of the highest standard of health must be secured throughout the whole life cycle in equality with men……Lack of food and inequitable distribution of food for girls and women in the household, inadequate access to safe water, sanitation facilities and fuel supplies, particularly in rural and poor urban areas, and deficient housing conditions, all overburden women and their families and have a negative effect on their health. Good health is essential to leading a productive and fulfilling life, and the right of all women to control all aspects of their health, in particular their own fertility, is basic to their empowerment.”

It’s Pink-October time again and there will be a lot of conversations like today about the need to create and sustain awareness regarding: the prevalence of breast cancer, the prevention of breast cancer, the need to have your breasts examined and what to do and how to cope if you are diagnosed with breast cancer – how to cope after breast removal – a mastectomy, what about chemotherapy and is there radiation treatment available – and above all what does it cost?

I could give you a cost of the treatment, but don’t ask me to cost the life of a mother, sister, daughter and friend – that is immeasurable.

There are a couple of things I would like to say about “awareness” raising for this campaign:

• The quote I read out earlier is a commitment to all women of the world and greater awareness needs to be given to what commitments have been made to ensuring women’s health services are available, accessible and affordable through the public health service

• Awareness raising is needed not just for women to be reminded to carry out breast examinations but to also claim her right to decide what happens to her breast – to be empowered and supported by her partner, family, friends and medical practitioners to make a decision which changes her life completely, but also gives her a chance to claim her life back…

• Awareness raising is needed to understand that as the husband, partner, brother or father you’ve got to be comfortable with the “b” word – Breast – because that is what we are talking about – just like the “C” word – cervix, just a lot higher up in the female anatomy

• We need to remember that with awareness raising comes the need to ensure accessibility and affordability of detection and treatment – from the cost of the mammogram to the biopsy to the lumpectomy to the chemo or radiation treatment – how does a woman who contributes to our informal economy, managing her home or work all day at the market going to afford this treatment? How do we value one woman’s life over another? How do we determine that all women, every girl child can enjoy “productive and fulfilling life, and the right of all women to control all aspects of their health

• Greater investment is needed to also ensure a more coordinated approach to enhance the work of organisations such as the Fiji Cancer Society and their counterparts in the Ministry of Health – the doctors and nurses who can enable easier referrals and tracking of the treatment and post treatment check ups across Fiji

• Awareness raising is needed to remind health professionals that until we have a cadre of specialists across Fiji, you are also the specialists, your are the counselors, you are the source of information and the basis often from which we can experience dignity despite the pain and uncertainly of coping with cancer; you are the key communicators during this journey that nobody ever asks for …

Conclusion

Last year, the Pink’October campaign was catalytic for me. It spurred me on to a medical examination, biopsy the detection of tumour and a mastectomy on November 29th 2010. This year I have completed a full cycle of chemotherapy and I am in final stages of preparation including fundraising for radiation treatment in Melbourne. The journey for me over this last year has been a journey of discovery, of learning, of adjusting, of giving thanks for the family and friends support – I have had the privilege of access to my FNPF savings to enable my treatment here in Fiji and fingers crossed for the next application!

My year has been one of making time for myself, not skipping meals but being mindful of what I eat, missing the energy to bounce out to the seawall but also listening to me body and recognizing the need for rest; I have the privilege to work for a feminist organisation that has enabled me to work flexi hours when I needed to, while also supporting my urge to continue to work not just in Suva but in our rural communities but also on assignment abroad.

I have a physician who is infectious with positivity that at one stage I was wondering whether I was really going through chemo and at the same time I have belligerently not given in to self pity - because through my work here in Fiji and in other Pacific Island countries I am mindful of the women who don’t have – but need more than information and support, they need to know that despite the lump they have an option for life.

Yes I have lost a breast (she was a favourite when it came to breast feeding many years ago) but I have also gained an opportunity to be an advocate not just for women’s rights and women’s peace and security but to realize in the journey of the year what the right to health and the privilege of health security really means

This is the month for Pink’October and so let’s not just make this conversation only about this month because a woman’s journey with breast cancer is not just for a year – we are mindful that these are the journeys we undertake with our friends and families today but one also which could be a journey for our daughters as well and so I hope that this year’s Pink’October campaign will not only create awareness but give rise to more lives of mothers and sisters being saved.

ENDS

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