The annual Pinktober Walk concluded on Saturday, emphasising early cancer detection, human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, and the rollout of new diagnostic tools.
Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony highlighted improvements in access to diagnostic services. “In Guyana, one of the things that we have done over the last year, we have added mammography machines across the country. So now we have a mammography machine in Sunny Hospital, one at Linden, one at New Amsterdam, and one all the way out in Lethem and already we are getting a lot of people coming to use these services,” he said.
Describing advancements in breast cancer diagnostics, Dr Anthony noted that there was a time when a diagnosis of breast cancer was made and doctors were not sure what type of breast cancer it was. Now, with a new lab, differentials between the different types of breast cancer can be done.
“That lab is now located at the Georgetown Public Hospital, because the different types require different treatments, and that is why this is so important,” he explained.
The minister also stressed the role of prevention, particularly for cervical cancer. “Some of the cancers that affect women in Guyana are quite preventable. One such cancer is cervical cancer, and you can prevent the cancer because it’s caused by a virus, and if you take a vaccine, it can prevent that cancer from happening,” he said.
Guyana now offers the nine-valent HPV vaccine free of charge. The ministry is working to ensure every child between nine and fifteen, boys and girls, is vaccinated. Women aged 16 to 45 can also benefit from the vaccine.
The Pinktober Walk brought communities together to raise awareness, celebrate survivors, and encourage preventive measures, with strong support from NGOs and sponsors promoting cancer care and early detection.
