Breast cancer continues to pose a major threat to women’s health across Africa, prompting renewed mobilization as the continent marks Pink October 2025.
From Burkina Faso to Algeria, Gabon, and Congo, governments and health organizations are stepping up awareness and screening campaigns aimed at encouraging early detection — widely recognized as the most effective way to save lives.
In Burkina Faso, the official launch of Pink October took place on October 1 in Tanghin Dassouri. Authorities announced plans to offer 6,000 free eco-mammograms for women across both urban and rural communities to reduce deaths linked to breast cancer.
A day later, Congo inaugurated its national Pink October campaign under the high patronage of Health Minister Professor Jean-Rosaire Ibara.
The initiative focuses on raising awareness about screening and promoting early diagnosis, a vital measure in a country where many cases are still detected at advanced stages.
In Algeria, the El-Amel Association unveiled a traveling medical caravan designed to reach remote regions.
“Early detection is the only effective response to the spread of the disease,” said Hamida Kettab, president of the association, in an interview with Algerian Radio Channel 2.
The country records around 15,000 new cases of breast cancer each year, leading to more than 4,200 deaths.
Gabon’s 2025 campaign, launched under the theme “United by the unique, beyond Pink October,” also emphasizes increased awareness and improved access to care for women battling cancer.
Health authorities in Libreville highlighted stronger coordination between public institutions and civil society as key to improving screening outcomes.
Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among women in Africa and globally.
It is characterized by abnormal cell growth in breast tissue that can develop into metastatic forms if not treated early.
The World Health Organization (WHO) continues to stress that the pink ribbon movement should extend beyond October, urging year-round prevention efforts and consistent follow-up care for patients.
Through initiatives such as mobile screening caravans and free mammogram programs, African nations are working to expand healthcare access and dismantle barriers faced by women in underserved regions.
These collective efforts, officials say, are essential to reducing mortality rates and ensuring that every woman, regardless of where she lives, has a fighting chance against breast cancer.
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