Stakeholders across Malawi’s health sector have emphasized the urgent need for widespread awareness on breast cancer as a critical step to curb the disease’s alarming rise.
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The Malawi College of Health Sciences (MCHS), Think Pink Malawi, Standard Bank Malawi, and the Association for Women in Media (AWOME) were some of the stakeholders who held a solidarity march from Parliament Building to Area 10’s August House in Lilongwe to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the country.
Speaking after the march, Anastasia Ghambi Kisyombe, head of the Community Health Nursing Department at MCHS, emphasized the importance of a unified approach to cancer education and early detection.
She believes these measures can save lives and combat persistent misconceptions about breast cancer in Malawi.
“There are still many myths surrounding breast cancer, with some people believing it’s contagious or a death sentence. By providing accurate information through education, we hope to dispel these misconceptions and encourage more people to seek early diagnosis and treatment,” said Kisyombe, underscoring that the reach of this education must extend beyond classrooms and into communities through collaborative partnerships.
In a separate interview, Ella Bwanausi Kayira, a volunteer with Think Pink Malawi, discussed the challenges of spreading awareness in Malawi’s diverse regions.
She noted that Think Pink’s efforts remain fragmented across districts, limiting their impact without a consolidated national strategy.
“There’s not enough open conversation around breast and cervical cancers in the country. Think Pink Malawi is active in the central region, but we need a unified national approach to take the awareness messages to the national level,” Kayira said.
Meanwhile, Malawi’s media sector is stepping up its role in cancer advocacy, with AWOME pledging to bolster awareness efforts through compelling storytelling and partnerships with groups like Think Pink Malawi.
Josephine Phumisa, Vice Chairperson of AWOME’s Central Region chapter, highlighted the media’s role in amplifying public health messages.
“Journalists have a unique capacity to reach and engage a broad audience on critical health issues like cancer,” Phumisa stated.
Standard Bank Malawi, which provided financial and promotional support for Think Pink Malawi during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, expressed hopes of inspiring similar contributions from other companies.
Tamanda Ng’ombe, Standard Bank’s Head of Brand and Marketing, emphasized that collaborative efforts can greatly improve health outcomes.
“We believe a healthy population is essential for Malawi’s growth, and supporting cancer awareness is one way we drive that. We hope our support will set an example for other organizations to join in creating lasting impact,” Ng’ombe said.
After the march, Think Pink Malawi offered free breast cancer screenings at Area 10’s August House, continuing their effort to promote early detection.
This year’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month carries the theme “No-one Should Face Breast Cancer Alone”, with a call for unified action and community support against the disease.
According to the World Health Organization, breast cancer is the most common cancer worldwide, with approximately 2.3 million new cases each year.
Accounting for one in every eight cancer diagnoses across both sexes and a quarter of all cancers in women, the disease claims 70% of its victims in resource-limited settings, underscoring the need for improved awareness, early detection, and accessible treatment to mitigate these stark outcomes.
