Mbabane – Women across Eswatini are being urged to wear pink ribbons this October to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a global campaign aimed at reducing the impact of a disease that affects millions worldwide.
Breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women, with 2.3 million new cases and 670,000 deaths reported globally in 2022. The disease touches families in deeply personal ways, affecting mothers, sisters, daughters, and friends.
Health authorities in Eswatini say the month is an opportunity to encourage women to attend regular screenings, starting at age 40 or earlier for those at higher risk. Awareness programs also seek to educate communities on risk factors and support those living with the disease, including women with metastatic breast cancer.
Globally, survival rates vary widely. High-income countries report five-year survival exceeding 90%, while countries such as South Africa record around 40 percent. Experts attribute this to limited access to early detection, timely diagnosis, and treatment. With current trends, global breast cancer cases and deaths could increase by 40 percent by 2050.
Since 2021, the World Health Organization Global Breast Cancer Initiative has worked with partner countries to strengthen health systems and reduce breast cancer mortality.
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