Braving the wind and rain, Colonial War Memorial Hospital doctors ventured out to play inter departmental games in honour of Pinktober.

The sports day was opened by Minister for Health and Medical Services, Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete.

Dr Waqainabete said: “This was a good initiative, to have doctors come out of hospital and be engaged in sports. Not often we see them out as they are always busy especially in the coming festive season, where most of them would be working.

“It is also a good way of bonding, meeting families and interacting out of hospital and we should organise more sports day such as this.”

The sports day was organised by the surgical department and was attended by health care workers whose busy schedules never afford them the time and luxury to participate in sports.

They were passionately present to represent their own department at Veiuto grounds on Saturday, playing netball, touch rugby and volleyball.

The purpose of this game as explained by surgeon Dr Losalini Tabakei was to initiate and revitalise a healthy physical lifestyle among our busy doctors.

“Pinktober is themed to create awareness on breast cancer and help encourage women and men to discuss this issue among their peers instead of keeping quiet about it,” she said.

“We are not doing screening at the games, we are encouraging a healthy lifestyle which helps lower your risk factors for cancer.

She also encouraged sports organisers to use this theme in their events as well to conquer myths about cancer in Fiji.

“People present late because they are fearful and misinformed about cancer,” Dr Tabakei said.

“We are here to provide services to help eliminate cancer in the early stages, but you have to do your part by coming early to hospital. Ask questions, stay informed beware of changes in your body and be open to talk about it.

“Hiding disease will only empower true disease. Empower the health services we provide by coming early to us with lumps and bumps in your bodies instead of coming when it has invaded other organs.

“We have to hold this as an annual event to keep us aware and fighting about issues around breast cancer,” she added.

Edited by Leone Cabenatabua

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