BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS SPEAK DURING ‘THINK PINK GO ACT !’ CAMPAIGN LAUNCH BY EMINENCE GLOBAL

We use this. This is a silicone one. This is the best quality. Why? Because it has weight. It also balances you out. And then we have a specific bra that we use. This is another one. This is another. This is the bra, the massage bra. So you slide the prosthesis in here. Let me show you. Yeah, like this. And then you rest it against your chest. This is what we use for rehabilitation. Action. Today we have come to a topic that is very important to us. Think Pink. Go Heart. Think Pink. Go Heart. Think Pink. Go Heart. These kids don't know how to speak. You hear how they shout wherever they go. They say Think Pink. This is breast cancer awareness. Breast cancer awareness Think Pink. At the end of the day, Think Pink. Go Heart. Think Pink. Go Heart. Perhaps you could introduce yourself. Yes, I am Mikaela Monguria. I am the director of Eminence Global, our communications company. We have organized this nationwide campaign for breast cancer awareness, to raise greater awareness about breast cancer, to advocate for early screening, because it is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Kenya. And so, because of that, we must raise awareness about it. And we have brought together leading companies, organizations, and NGOs that have partnered with us. to demonstrate benevolence toward society, to show their commitment through CSR and also to stand in solidarity with breast cancer patients and organizations that are fighting To be able to one day have pink just as a color, not just a color associated with cancer. That's why we're here today—to reveal the activities we have planned for this month. And one of the activities we're going to have is the Pink Run. It's going to be on August 19th or October 19th, which is next Saturday. That's when we'll have the Pink Run here. It's 5.5 kilometers. It's going to start at the heart current and end at the heart current. After that, we're going to have the Pink Visit to our Cancer Foundation. to be able to understand their challenges, their needs. You know, most of them need prosthetics. Most of them need support from families, friends, and relatives, you know. and also community in our poverty, you know. So we need to go and visit and find out what we need to do as a people, as humanity, to be able to support them. Another one, we're also going to have the Breast Cancer Pink Banquet at the JW Marriott on the 31st of this month. And on that day, the 31st, we're also going to have scars turn into stars. And of course, later, the director of CanCallX found out more about that. and also the other activities we have throughout this month. But the main, main message is to think pink, go out. Whenever you see the color pink, you must inform your sister, your daughter, your partner, your wife, your female friend, go for early screening. So on that day, during the Pink Run, we'll be offering free screenings here. We have different hospitals that are going to come to pitch their booths for free screenings. So we ask all women to show up in large numbers. Not only women, but also our brothers, our partners, our spouses, our husbands, our male colleagues to come and stand in solidarity with all women and encourage them to come and get screened, okay? Yes, that's exactly why we're here today. And today, we also have breast cancer survivors who are here with us. There are three of them. I'm going to call them so they can share their journey. And what is it like to receive treatment in Kenya? And what we can do differently as a country to ensure that every person, Every single breast cancer patient is actually able to go through the treatment process smoothly. until they are healed. Yes. Shujaa, welcome. Welcome, welcome, welcome. This is Shujaa. This is who we are celebrating. You are the one we are celebrating. You are the one we have to provide a convoy for. Thank you so much. Since you've said go out, can you act right now? Get a convoy. You've got it. Thank you. Thank you so much. My name is Alusi Njerika Ryoki and I am a breast cancer champion, driver, and conqueror. We give ourselves such names. We don't call ourselves survivors because everyone is trying to survive this Kenya. This is my eighth year since diagnosis. I am the mother of one breast. Is it breast or titi? It's Titi. I am the mother of one breast. I was diagnosed with cancer in 2017. I went to Kenyatta. They removed one breast. They underwent chemotherapy. It was painful, but now it's okay. I went back. I underwent radiotherapy. At that time, Let's just say, NSHF was paying. It was paying off. But right now, I don't have a problem. I don't have a major problem. But at that time, I was grateful. It did cater to my treatment. at Kenyatta National Hospital. Today, I'm here. Redefining cancer. Cancer is not a death sentence. We have survival. We are asking for a piece of the pie They say diagnosis and death. We want diagnosis, survival, and death. Because we are not featured. We are the voice Who can tell the story? or paint the red picture on the ground. Right now, the ground is not good. But we are still giving hope. Hope against hope. We say there is life after cancer. There is a possibility. In Kenya, there are doctors. I was raised here in Kenya. I advocate for local treatment. I do not advocate for medical tourism I received my treatment here. I'm well and standing. Our doctors are in good health and capable. We just need to affirm three things. One, here and there. Things could be working. When I was receiving treatment, Kenyatta was the only hospital. Let's give credit where it is due. We have a cancer center in Nakuru. People are not coming from Nakuru to Kenyatta. We have a cancer center in Mombasa. People are not coming from Mombasa to Kenyatta. We have a cancer center in Garissa and Machakos. So, even if there are doctors, You have done a good job. You have done a good job. We also have KU. They have brought doctors and nurses. There are many fellowships. For those girls who are sharp-minded. I stopped studying. So, those who are Upstairs, they can do medicine. and help our people. We also say that we integrate the cancers. It's the same woman who has a cervix. So, when you go for screening, make sure your cervix is screened. Get your breasts screened. And the MCDs. Diabetes, hypertension. What else Is it non-communicable? Pressure. Because it's the same client. So, when you go for screening, You ask to be screened from those others. Because we have people who are recovering from cancer and then they die due to depression, diabetes And it's so unfortunate. So, let us widen our screening Do you want me to tell you something else? Perhaps you could tell us about the challenges. You're dealing with the breast cancer thing. Challenges, there are many. Losing a body part is not Just one more thing. Mentally and emotionally, It was exhausting. I had my breast removed. And even today, I ask, where did they take my breast? It was part of me. So, I still grieve for my breasts. Naturally, when you lose something, You still... I was not born without both. Or rather, I never grew up without Any, but I lost one in the process. So, that is one that affects Patients. Trauma. Emotional awareness and mental awareness. Challenges, I had a small Baby. So, where to? Leave my baby when coming for treatment? Cuing in Kenyatta, but as long As I queued and got the services, I'm good. We say that Kenyatta will be the one to face the consequences. Go stand in line like everyone else. Get the services. Yes, and you stand. You leave your makasiriko outside the gate. And in Kenyatta, we don't have my oncology. We have our doctors because they are there to Do mea. All of us. Another challenge, Simulana ni Kona socks. I've developed something. called FIDIMA. When they remove the breast, they remove the leaf nodes. And they are responsible for transporting the liquid in my body. So, if you lift anything heavier than 20 kilograms or you work, my friend, I don't know FIDIMA. This leaves 5,000. Mother is not afraid of the water. He is showing the way, brother. What's up? Yes, yes, yes. What's up? Yes. So, what's next? Rehabilitate? So, you see, I have a cleavage. Be careful with people. Sindiyo? Yes. So, what do we do to rehabilitate ourselves? I want to show you We use this. This is a silicone one. This is the highest quality. Why? Because it has weight. It also keeps you balanced. And then we have a specific bra that we use For that. This is another one. This is another one. This is the bra, the mastectomy bra. So, you slide the prosthesis inside here. Let me show you. Yeah. Like this. And then you rest it against your chest. So, this is what we use for rehabilitation. This prosthesis costs 5,000. After treatment, It is going to be afforded. to buy the prosthesis. This bra costs 3,500. I don't know who in Kenya will be able to buy this. We have an alternative one. We have our survivors who are using this one. This one goes for 1,000. It contains fiber inside. And it is light. So, we're asking, if I end up in a hospital and I had my breast removed, Hospital, please get her for rehabilitation. Because I need to regain my femininity and my self-esteem was rehabilitated. This is just part of the things that we also, when your hair falls, wigs You need the wigs and even the piercings when it's cold. So, we would ask, your chief and our brothers Can they get her for this? For any other cancer, They need prosthetic legs. prosthetic arms and we are demanding to be given disability cards. When you lose a part of your body, You become a disabled person. So, I lost my breast. I need to be given that disability card. and waived. Even the tax. I'm not begging you. I am saying it is absolutely necessary. And for those who have hidden disabilities, we have women who have cervical cancer and their hair is especially loose. So, they don't have part of their body. There are those who have used Tumbler bags due to colon cancer, but you can't see it. And we can't go showing off our disabilities. So, please, Can that be factored? Thank you for celebrating us. One thing I would want to say is, don't just wear pink. Don't just be happy. Go for screening. Please. The best thing you can do For yourself this month is to get screened. Know your status. And then, if you've Know your status, whatever The doctor is going to ask you to do. Just do it. And also advocating for the HPV vaccine for our girls against cervical cancer. Cancer is just one But you have different cancers. So, if you have a girl who is 9 to 14, in the hospitals Government, it's free. In private, That's where they charge. If you can do something to support a cancer patient at this moment or a survivor, It doesn't have to be monetary. You can go and visit them. You can go and drink and dance. with them. We have a walk-in at Mama Lucy On Saturday. Please, can I get this render to come in support of us? I'll be there so that we can see For me, a support system means a great deal. It doesn't have to be monetary, but be kind to people. People are struggling a lot and together we can Win it. Thank you. Breast cancer COGRA or survivor or a winner. And I'm happy because I made it and I came to realize that cancer is not a dead sentence. So, I feel proud when I advise or when I speak about cancer because I'm the one who have gone the the way or the road Who can encourage the other? Women. Cancer is not easy. journey because It needs a lot of treatment. The treatment is expensive. When we come to think of chemo if you don't have enough money, That's why we find people dying. because it's very expensive to receive the treatment. From there, We go for radiotherapy. It's also another therapy and it also needs a lot of money. It requires a great deal of money and if you fail to undergo radiotherapy, you might find recurrence in your skin. So, we can also request anyone who can be able to take care of or who can offer or who can grant anything related to cancer. He or she can be appreciated because it is Not an easy journey. We made it. and it is through God and through having other people to encourage us. That's why. But I have experienced some people dying because of lack of sufficient treatment Especially if you miss any chemotherapy, you might find your body It's not make. So, you can You feel yourself growing weak and I have seen, I have experienced my fellow friends dying because of especially when the doctors go on strike. I had five people. who died on the line waiting to undergo chemotherapy. So, it was so hurting when we see those important services being filled for some people like cancer people and like the other like the dialysis So, I still feel that pain because I saw them. and later I came to be called that chemo because they were my friend and they know I get five champion since 2021 and I thank God for that chemo in therapy a lot of challenges who is on pregnant You know society cancer people cancer champion You need money. When you fight cancer, most of the time You use money. you know you know you know you I was undergoing chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and masturbation at KU. And NHIF, for real, it was paying off But for now, when we come here, nothing is happening in our hospitals. In fact, the people who are out there are being harassed. As I told you, I'm on hormone therapy. Even those hormones, one tablet is KSh 400 each. And you are told to go and buy it, to listen to it You're a hustler like me—where would you get it from? That's why we want our government to stop To shut our doors, to leave us with a lot of things To take care of people who are suffering from cancer That's what we're sending them to shut their doors. Because I am in terrible, terrible pain To shut their doors, to leave them with much pain To do all those things, but to take care of people who are suffering from cancer Because people who are suffering from cancer are dying And people who are suffering from dialysis You know when you get sick, you get sick. Even people who are undergoing dialysis are dying. Don't let them hear People suffering from cancer are dying here. And they are dying. Because this is no longer working And if we don't take these medicines We will experience recurrence. Right now, I am staying one month without taking the medicine. And I am suffering from a recurrence Breast cancer is currently the leading cancer in Kenya. As far as incidence is concerned And it is the second leading cause of mortality. That means that every year we are seeing approximately Over 7,000 women diagnosed with breast cancer And every year We are losing more than 3,000 of them Now one of the main reasons why we are losing these women Is what we refer to as late diagnosis So in Kenya, it is said that only about 16% of women Attend breast examinations Especially the clinical breast examination And only 30% of women Have you ever done in your lifetime Between the ages of 15 and 49 Have done what we call Self-breast examination So we are urging people to come out in large numbers. In this month of October Get screened, get tested Even yourself in the house You can perform what we call a self-breast examination. So as the Kenya Network of Cancer Organizations Also, what we do is that We support the survivors By what they have mentioned We have the breast prosthesis. The wigs as they lose their hair And by the way, even when they lose their hair The hair that grows back is very thick and very healthy. So we are here to encourage those who are currently Undergoing treatment Don't give up, it's going to get better. There is good treatment in this country. Show up for treatment, and right now Breast cancer does not spare any age group In recent times It was mainly recorded among the older women. And the older population But now we are seeing the younger women Ages: 30, 25, 28 So you are never too young to go for it Breast cancer screening And you're never too old to get screened for breast cancer. So the theme for the Ministry of Health this month In addition to Go Pink Go and Act, we are talking about Closing the care gap, and then making sure That there is access to care Services and support For breast cancer patients who are fighting Thank you very much, and we stand in solidarity. On the 25th we will be in Westlands We are holding a medical camp. We are screening everyone, including the men. And also on the 31st we are having A Stars to Scars event That we are also inviting you to be part of So we are here in solidarity With Eminence Global, and we truly appreciate it The work they are doing to spread awareness In this month of breast cancer awareness Thank you Before we finalize, I would like to thank All the partners who have come on board To make this day a success, and to make This month, the campaign was also a success. And one of them is Herb Curren. For providing us with this platform They are also one of our major Partners who are attempting to demonstrate benevolence To society in various CSR initiatives, so we thank you The Herb Curren, we also thank Ken Corp, the Kenya Network Cancer Association Yes, we want to thank them so much For coming on board, we have other Organizations like NCA, National Construction Authority, which are also going to Come and participate in the run We have the Kenya Red Cross. We also have AMREF. Team, and also other universities That are going to come and participate in the run So what we are telling you Please, please, please register for the run At register.eminenceglobalpr.com Register.eminenceglobalpr.com And come for the run Come, and we will stand in solidarity. You have seen that it does not discriminate based on gender. Or individuals, okay So whether male or female, come Get screened for free And know your health status, alright So we want to finalise Come on, are you ready? Are you ready? Alright Is it possible to go back?