October Rose Momentum Sweeps Through Brazzaville
Brazzaville’s morning air carried an unusual buzz last weekend as joggers, nurses, and office workers laced up their sneakers for the Association Lion d’Or’s October Rose campaign. Led by former MP José Cyr Ebina, the nonprofit combined a medical conference and a 10-kilometer run to raise awareness about breast and cervical cancer.
According to GLOBOCAN figures cited by the World Health Organization, Congo records approximately 1,300 new breast cancer cases and 560 related deaths annually, making it the most common malignant tumor among women in the country. Local doctors acknowledge that late diagnosis, financial barriers, and persistent myths still hinder early treatment.
Medical Experts Decode Cancer Facts
The campaign began with a conference at the Saphir Hotel, where Dr. Mayama N’Sika from Clinique Icare calmly reminded a predominantly female audience that “cancer is not inevitable; it’s a warning.” Her colleagues Bénie Ignoumba and Princesse Okiell-Issongo cited tobacco, alcohol, poor diet, and inactivity as modifiable threats.
Screening took center stage. The doctors reiterated that monthly self-examination, including the armpit and breast, remains the first line of defense, while mammograms every two years from age forty can detect tumors too small to feel. Early detection can achieve survival rates over 90 percent, they stated.
The panel then turned to cervical cancer, dominated by the human papillomavirus. Regular visual inspection or Pap smears, combined with vaccinating girls aged nine to fourteen, could virtually eliminate the disease within a generation, argued moderator Sabrina Kapinga, citing WHO pilot programs for national adoption.
Ten-Kilometer Run Colors the Streets Pink
The Sunday run transformed theory into motion. Sixty participants covered the riverside boulevards, some jogging, others walking briskly to the beat of drums. Among them ran a visually impaired person guided by a friend’s elbow—a picture of inclusion that drew generous applause from spectators lining Avenue Foch all morning.
“Physical activity reduces breast cancer risk by up to twenty percent,” Dr. Ignoumba reminded journalists at the finish line, citing Lancet Oncology data. “Ten kilometers is symbolic; what matters is consistency.” Volunteers distributed papayas, water, and flyers listing local screening center schedules across several districts.
Inclusion, Partnerships, and Economic Impact
Surrounded by pink balloons, José Cyr Ebina described the participation as a “silent revolution of goodwill.” He unveiled plans for a dedicated mammography center in Talangaï district, funded by private sponsors and a fundraising drive targeting Congolese businesses active in health logistics and digital services.
The Ministry of Health sent observers and praised the initiative, noting that community actions complement the National Non-Communicable Disease Plan adopted in 2022. A spokesperson