Fiji Cancer Society continues to raise cancer awareness
From funding treatments to rural outreach, the society covers 200,000km to deliver screenings and hope across Fiji.
Monday 13 October 2025 | 02:30
Fiji Cancer Society and cancer survivor Vikiwini Tora (fifth from the left) with women of Vakabuli Village and staff of Sugar Cane Growers Fund while cutting the Pinktober cake during the awareness programme in Drasa, Lautoka on October 9, 2025.
Photo: Supplied
Fiji Cancer Society has spent $675,879 on patient support services and $259,674 on diagnostics, oncology unit therapy, drugs and weekly surgical backlogs at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva for the past four years.
The organisation has also conducted more than 281 cancer awareness and screenings covering more than 200,000 kilometres of travelling time in Fiji.
Fiji Cancer Society member and a cancer survivor, Vikiwini Tora, said this during a Pinktober awareness programme in collaboration with Sugar Cane Growers Fund at Vakabuli village in Drasa last Thursday.
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Ms Tora said this Year’s Pinktober theme, was a bold call to action, which was turning awareness into action.
“The funding has helped with transportation to treatment, eased the medication costs, diapers and provided emotional support to families navigating the hardest moments of their lives,’’ Ms Tora said.
Fiji Cancer Society received a donation of $300 from SCGF, which was part of their corporate social responsibility and sports club of SCGF to support the organisation in providing cancer awareness and screenings in Fiji.
“This is what action looks like, compassion made tangible,” Ms Tora commended.
She stressed that it is essential to educate and conduct screenings directly to people who need it the most with care and commitment.
Ms Tora said Pinktober was more than a campaign; it called for personal responsibility.
She elaborated saying that awareness meant knowing breast cancer exists and performing monthly self-checks and recognising signs of cancer, such as a lump, skin changes, nipple inversion and knowing what is normal for women.
Action does not stop at screenings and includes having a balanced diet, regular exercise, and maintaining a healthy weight.
She said these good habits were protective steps women could take to be aware of cancer.
Medical Services Pacific (MSP) was also part of the pinktober awareness program and provided general medical checkup to women.
MSP team leader Uliano Katawai said women were advised to visit the nearest health centres to receive medical services such as screening for cancer and HIV as it was important to know about their health status.
Sugar Cane Growers Fund chief executive officer Raj Sharma expressed gratitude to the Fiji Cancer Society and MSP for reaching out to communities and providing free medical services in Fiji.
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