SINT MAARTEN (PHILIPSBURG) – In keeping with the 2021 International Women’s Day theme “Choose to Challenge” The Positive Foundation and the Elektralyets Foundation “Choose to Challenge,” both foundations said in a press statement on Wednesday, calling on women to:
- Women over 18 years of age and older to get screened for breast cancer
- Men who are 45 years of age and older to get screened for prostate cancer
to call their doctor and make an appointment to GET CHECKED. The Foundations has placed banners featuring Pink & Blue Faces in the Madame Estate area as a reminder that we are all responsible for our own health. We are currently looking for more banner locations in rural areas like Suckergarden and St. Peters, South Reward areas. The banners were made possible with grant from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine and Adtalem Global Education.
The Pink and Blue Faces are women and men in our community that have volunteered to be part of our ongoing campaign to inspire, stimulate and strengthen our call to action to help save lives in St. Maarten.
The women featured as the Pink Faces are survivors, warriors, and even one that has lost the fight against breast cancer. Through their courage and dedication to the cause and the desire to educate others to “Feel it, Find it, Fight it!” when it comes to breast cancer awareness, the journey continues. The Pink Faces remind us of those who have lost their lives to breast cancer, those who have survived it and those who are still engaged in the struggle against it.
The Blue Faces are also warriors, survivors and men who understand the importance of getting checked and staying in tune with their health as men. While prostate cancer is a huge taboo on our island, the foundations hope that “MAN UP and CHECK UP” slogan will appeal to the macho men in our community and start the discussions among men older than 45 years and their health care providers. The foundations are encouraging the men in our community to bring another male friend, colleague or loved one to their next doctor’s appointment.
Due to the COVID 19 Pandemic, many community awareness programs conducted by organizations like the Positive and Elektralyets Foundations have been impacted negatively. All stakeholders, including businesses, NGO’s Churches, communities, and individuals are being encouraged to take the lead in protecting and stopping the spread of our COVID 19 to members of our community.
Many of us may have overlooked getting our annual physical because of the challenges associated with the pandemic, while some of us may have questioned why you should see your doctor for an annual physical exam, if you are feeling generally healthy. One good reason is checking in with your primary care physician can confirm that you have no underlying health risks that need attention. Or an exam may lead to an early-stage diagnosis of some kind, which means you could receive treatment sooner with better outcomes.
We have all witnessed that a challenged St. Maarten is an alert St. Maarten and from a challenge comes change. Let us all embrace the change for betterment of our health. GET CHECKED!
The Positive and Elektralyets Foundation is calling our whole community to action to GET CHECKED! as Breast Cancer nor Prostate Cancer does not discriminate, and it could affect the ones we hold dear to our hearts. Help us help our community and let us be proactive in the fight against Breast and Prostate Cancer and stand together as one to help save lives!
The breast cancer awareness movement launched in 1998 by the Positive Foundation has collaborated with the Elektralyets Foundation for over 10 years in the fight to save lives with its early detection messaging.
The prostate cancer awareness campaign launched in 2019 by the Positive Foundation, Elektralyets Foundation, and the St. Maarten Medical Center.
For more information visit our facebook page or contact:
Shelly Alphonso at 580 9658 or email shelly.alphonso@outlook.com or
Elektra at 523-7418 or email elektravoltage@hotmail.com.
