October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October has been declared Breast Cancer Awareness Month or “Pink October” in Davao City.

The declaration was issued by the City Government of Davao following the signing of Proclamation No. 3 series of 2023 on Friday.

According to the declaration, the local government “recognizes the need to raise public awareness on breast cancer and promote access to preventive screening and early detection” and urges the City Health Office (CHO) and other concerned offices, including the barangays, to “initiate and support activities promoting breast cancer awareness.”

Breast cancer is the third most fatal type of cancer in the Philippines and is now one of the leading causes of death in the country. Around 9,000 Filipino women have died due to breast cancer.

Councilor Pilar Braga, the resolution’s primary author, in a speech given during the opening of the Pink Month celebration organized by the Downtown Davao Rotary Club on Friday at the SM City Annex Activity Center, said the declaration aims to introduce “a new way of approaching the issue of cancer that emphasizes on prevention and early detection” by educating the public at the community level.

CHO Chief Dr. Tomas Miguel Ababon, in an interview with the City Information Office, said health awareness campaigns such as the Pink Month is vital in raising public consciousness of fatal diseases such as breast cancer.

“Daghan na kaayo ta’g mga kaigsoonan nga mga babaye na nagpuyo na naa’y cancer, pamilya na nawad-an og anak na babaye tungod sa cancer, ug dako kaayo ni siya nga impact na tagaan nato og pagtagad, suporta ug pagpalig-on pa sa programa (There are so many women who are living with cancer, families who have lost a daughter due to cancer and this has a great impact that we have to give attention, support and strengthen the program),” Ababon said. CIO