Pinktober Expo Shines Spotlight on Cancer Awareness at SCA Auditorium

Pink continues to lead the way through to the end of October which is cancer awareness month. Jahirene Sankey was at today’s Pinktober Expo held at SCA auditorium. 

The Belize Cancer Society hosted its first ever Pink Power Health Expo as a part of the Breast Cancer Awareness Month, also known as Pinktober. The initiative reflects ongoing efforts to address critical gaps in breast cancer awareness, access to care, and compassionate support. In collaboration with partners such as the PanAmerican Health Organization, PAHO, the World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health and Wellness, the event demonstrated a strong commitment to enhancing health outcomes and improving survival rates in the communities across Belize. Dr. Karen Roberts from the PanAmerican Health Organization, who is also the technical advisor for non-communicable diseases and mental health, in addressing the gathering, underscored the importance of partnerships in advancing equitable health care. 

Dr. Karen Roberts, PAHO/WHO Technical Advisor: “Together we can create a future where cancer care is accessible to all, mortality from breast cancer is eliminated and no one is left  behind. Let me close by saying that the PAHO/WHO, remains committed to providing technical cooperation to the Ministry of Health and Wellness, and other key stakeholders here in Belize for improved outcomes in cancer care. Not only here, in Belize, but in all countries in the region of the Americas where we work.”

Kim Simplis Barrow, president of the Belize Cancer Society, highlighted the various zones that were set in place at the event to provide access to resources, raise awareness and offer general support to those in need.

Kim Simplis Barrow, President, Belize Cancer Society: “What we’re doing is we’re doing fireside chats with survivors, advocates, health care workers and then we have we partnered with the Ministry of Health who are doing ultrasound breast examinations in a private area they’re doing that and then we have a child-friendly section where we have children going through, they’ll be doing drawings they’ll be painting stones they’ll be putting their hand mark on the wall of hope and it’s very interactive and then we have the Office of the Special Envoy who we also partnered with to do the mental health and wellness aspect of the show to tie everything in and make it so much more of a holistic approach.  So we have something for everyone.”

Students from across Belize City also participated in the event including from St. Luke Methodist Primary School, St. Catherine Academy and the Belize High School. The goal was to educate them about early detection methods  and introduce them to the different stages of breast cancer. Kalman Hall is the teacher and Leah Gentle is a student from St. Luke Methodist School.  

Kalman Hall, Teacher, St.Luke Methodist School: “I believe that it’s a good idea for the students to be here because they will get to know how to early detect themselves because  as we know cancer is affecting everyone. It’s not just affecting older people, it’s affecting everyone. So knowing how to early detect themselves will greatly impact them. We brought a hundred and ten students. We just lost a teacher last month from breast cancer and we have a warden suffering right now. It’s very hard I can tell you because we’re going through it, you know, being there just trying to  lend support is very hard. Seeing them going through it and you know you can’t really do anything just be support, just be their support. I would just tell them to have hope, have faith.”

Leah Gentle, Student, St.Luke Methodist School: “Well I feel amazing because to get the experience of this because it’s my first time being here for this event.”

Reporter: What is one thing you would tell your other classmates back at school that you learned today or that you saw?

Leah Gentle, Student, St.Luke Methodist School: “I saw that they have different stages of breast cancer  and I would tell them to also encourage themselves to learn about the different stages of breast cancer.”

The Belize Cancer Society will continue to observe Breast Cancer Awareness Month with meaningful events such as the Pinktober Pink Power Gala that will be held at Caribbean Motors  on October 25th.