Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Fisheries Semi Koroilavesau
donates during the Pinktober morning tea at Jack’s of Fiji & Lazy Beans Cafe in Suva on September 25, 2019.
Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr. Iferemi Waqainabete, Jacks of Fiji Managing Director Dalip Khatri and Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Fisheries Semi Koroilavesau during the Pinktober morning tea at the Jack’s of Fiji & Lazy Beans Cafe in Suva on September 25, 2019.
There was a strong show of support for the Jack’s of Fiji and Hard Rock Café Pinktober campaign as two cabinet ministers and a host of private companies showed up and pledged their support. Acting Prime Minister Semi Koroilavesau and Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete were among those present at Jack’s of Fiji & Lazy Beans Cafe in Pier Street, Suva.
In his keynote address, Dr Waqainabete said the Fiji Cancer Society looked at the soft part of cancer which was providing support to cancer patients and ensuring that patients received the care that was needed.
He highlighted that local health care could cater for 82 per cent of cancer treatment and if the need arose the Government had allocations to send the patients for overseas treatment.
He said the care for cancer had progressed in Fiji.
“This morning (yesterday) I came from a meeting at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital meeting with doctors from every field discussing the treatment of cancer patients that have been identified,” Dr Waqainabete said.
“We are taking a multi-disciplined approach towards the treatment of cancer in Fiji.”
Dr Waqainabete said awareness created around cancer was working as more people were coming forward to get checked. Fiji Cancer Society spokesperson Grace Tuivakasiga said all money raised through such campaigns went towards helping cancer patients and survivors.
She said there were 320 registered cancer patients and 65 were registered this year including a male patient with breast cancer. She said deaths from cancer were increasing every year.
Cancer survivor, Asenaca Driso, 33, gave her testimony on how she developed cervical cancer in 2017 and spoke of her battle during the 10-week chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment she had in India. She said it was help from the Fiji Cancer Society that allowed her to stay strong. The Pinktober Campaign by Jack’s of Fiji and Hardrock Café will allow customers to give donations in-store. The launch yesterday was also an appeal to private corporations to commit towards their campaign.