Big turnout at free two-day clinic
Fiji-based charity group expecting numbers to increase by 90 patients on final day today
Women who live in or near the Suva area are taking advantage of the two- day open clinic at the Medical Services Pacific ( MSP) headquarters at Waimanu Rd, Suva.
This is part of the charity group’s Pinktober awareness. The services provided involves family planning, breast examination, counselling, legal services and general doctor consultation.
Elenoa Matairavula, 64, who was one of the many women, who visited the clinic yesterday, said she was relieved to hear good news after her check-up.
“It is my first check-up and I am happy and relieved after seeing the doctor and being told that I do not have breast cancer,” Ms Matairavula said.
She is now urging other women to get checked early for breast cancer. MSP’s education, wellness and outreach co- ordinator, Taina Gucake, was pleased to share that they would normally examine between 90 to 100 people during their open day clinics.
On Wednesday, the clinic examined more than 80 people. They expected that number to increase on day 2.
“This is the third time in a row MSP is organising this Pinktober awareness and we give incentives to every client who comes in,” Ms Gucake said.
“So far, it has increased because people have passed on the message on how we operate, how fast we operate not only during Pinktober month, but also during normal operation hours from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.”
The clinic ended yesterday.
Walk-in clinic, CWM Hospital
Meanwhile, a walk-in clinic initiative was held at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva.
The initiative, in support of the Pinktober awareness, was set up to encourage women and men to come in, get examined and ask questions regarding breast lump and breast cancer. The clinic is open for an hour from 2pm, Monday to Thursday.
Surgical Registrar Losalini Tabakei said it was another way of encouraging the public to walk in without making prior bookings. “We see an average of about five to 10 patients in that one hour and it does very well for us because it gives us enough time to sit, talk, examine and answer all their questions,” Ms Tabakei said.
“We’ve also been able to catch some early breast cancer patients in the process, which was very good for us because some of them walked in without any symptoms. They were just curious and also some have been hiding the lump for six month and now it has surfaced.”
She said early detection of breast cancer was the key to cure or to prevent the killer disease. She is encouraging all women not to let fear hold them back.