By Alieu Amara Suwu

Cremelda Parkinson Pratt, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and founder of Thinking Pink Breast Cancer Foundation who has 20 years of experience in nursing and as a breast health consultant, as every October is being commemorated as Breast Cancer awareness month, has confirmed that Breast Cancer is on the increase, pronouncement she made on Monday 2nd October 2023 at her office, which is located at Pademba Roád, Freetown, during the opening session of the commemoration.

She disclosed that her foundation is targeting both female and male breast cancer patients. She called for action by the government to help address the high alarming rate in the increase of breast cancer across the nation. As a result of the increase of breast cancer, she said “we are calling on the government to help us with treatment options, and adequate funding as we cannotdo more as everybody is at risk and this is a call to action in order to target the sixty days period of awareness and treatment as recommended by World Health Organization (WHO).

“It is alarming that last year we had three thousand nine hundred and ninety-seven cases that were scanned for breast abnormality, as a result of this figure we are now targeting market areas, schools, deprived neighborhoods and even the corporate houses and institutions,” she noted.

She called on women to visit Thinking Pink Breast Cancer Foundation on regular basis for early detection and medical treatment so that it can be cured at an early stage instead of dealing with it much later when it would have become chronic, for Cancer treatment is very expensive globally.

She highlighted signs and symptoms of breast cancer which are excess alcohol consumption, smoking and stress among other reasons.

She further explained that this year, they are partnering with the Cycling Association to help them reach out to non-motorable and remote areas. That day, she said the office is opening up to free screening and they are having their health fair on the 20th at Zion, Wesley Street and said are also going to partner with the Sierra Leone Medical & Dental Association for door-to-door screening.

Mrs Cremelda Parkinson Pratt is the Founder and CEO of the Thinking Pink Breast Cancer Foundation. She also started and hosts The Freetown Mini Marathon in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Her motto: “I am a happy, content & ambitious