Pink Ribbon Master Class in Brazzaville
The Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza Memorial in Brazzaville was filled with pink ribbons on October 23 as the Tabita Allégresse Foundation brought together doctors, diplomats, and students for an intensive master class aimed at raising awareness among Congolese families about the silent threats of breast and cervical cancer.
Personal Story Behind the Tabita Allégresse Foundation
The founder spoke softly but firmly, recalling how pancreatic cancer took her mother Tabita Allégresse Mokana Ndongo in 2017 and sparked the promise that no woman, no household, should ever have to fight the disease in isolation again.
Early Screening Requires Collective Funding
From this loss, the foundation made early screening its compass, but limited budgets persist. The need for a coalition of private companies, banks, and government agencies was emphasized to combine expertise and funding so that a simple test becomes accessible for the market vendor in Ouenzé or the fisherman in Mpita.
“Cancer is not just a medical puzzle; it’s a human, social, and economic battle,” she reminded the audience, noting that timely support can make the difference between a curable lesion and catastrophic funerals for families already facing school fees and rising food prices.
UNFPA and Government Strengthen Cancer Guidelines
The representative from the United Nations Population Fund praised what he called the government’s “steady leadership” in the campaign, emphasizing that scientific days like this master class are platforms that translate policy into practice and implement evidence-based tools in every regional hospital.
He highlighted a new set of national guidelines produced with ministerial experts, describing the document as the “compass” that will guide nurses and oncologists toward harmonized diagnosis and treatment, regardless of zip code, thereby strengthening citizens’ trust in the public health network.
Rising Statistics Highlight Urgency
Current data compiled by specialists shows 2,727 recorded cancer cases nationwide in 2022, with 1,732 deaths. Analysts attribute this toll to demographic aging, tobacco and alcohol trends, but especially to late diagnosis, sporadic screening campaigns, and fragmented access to radiotherapy or surgery.
A delegate from the Ministry of Health reaffirmed the National Strategic Plan for Cancer Control 2022-2026, promising targeted investment to reduce mortality from breast and cervical cancer through vaccination, mammography expansion, and strengthening referral chains that link local clinics to main oncology units in Brazzaville.
Memorial Connects Heritage and Health
Hosting the event, the memorial’s director presented the historic site as a bridge between heritage and healing, insisting that the hall honoring the nation’s builders must also protect today’s citizens by amplifying “Pink October” awareness far beyond the capital’s administrative districts.
She emphasized that remembering yesterday’s explorers makes little sense if contemporary mothers cannot access preventive care, positioning the memorial’s partnership with the foundation as an example of cultural institutions embracing modern health advocacy.