Pink October in Burkina Faso!

Pink October Campaign! Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention for Women and Adolescent Girls.

This October, our partners International Needs Burkina Faso launched their Pink October campaign! We started building the Maternity Unit in Bobo Dioulasso in 2017, and it’s amazing to see what a difference it’s making in the community after 8 years. With over 7,600 births from 2017 to 2024, the team wanted to continue to support the women in their community by screening for breast and cervical cancer. Read below for the wonderful impact it’s had so far!

From 23 to 25 October, IN Burkina Faso ran a 3-day  campaign at the Ophel Health Centre and La Bonne Nouvelle School. They engaged a local griot who used traditional West African Drums and locally made sound speakers to spread awareness of the event in Bobo Dioulasso and surrounding areas, encouraging women and adolescent girls to participate in what became a very colourful and well-attended event.

Day 1- Launch and Mass Awareness

The first day was dedicated to the official launch of the campaign. Participants attended a group awareness session on women’s cancer, discussing their causes, early symptoms, and preventive measures. Breast cancer screening sessions were delivered by nurses trained in breast palpation.

Day 2 –Continued Screening and Educational Sessions

The second day was dedicated to continuing the screening activities and conducting in-depth health education sessions. The medical teams alternated between: breast and cervical cancer screenings,  individual consultations to guide women at risk,  interactive discussions on feminine hygiene, nutrition, stress management, and the importance of regular medical follow-ups.

Day 3 – Closing and Testimonials

The final day began with a summary of the key prevention messages. Several women who had been screened shared moving testimonials, expressing their appreciation for this free and life-saving initiative. Meanwhile, the physician from the Ophel centre, supported by a team of teachers, conducted awareness sessions on the grounds of La Bonne Nouvelle School for female students, many of whom come from displaced or underprivileged families.

Results of the Pink October 2025 Campaign

The activities carried out as part of the Pink October 2025 campaign yielded significant outcomes in terms of both community participation and screening coverage.

Ophel Health Centre:

Number of women reached through awareness: 500

Number of women screened for cervical cancer: 210

• Negative results : 188
• Positive results : 8
• Suspected cervical cancer cases: 5

Number of women screened for breast cancer: 201

• Positive breast nodules detected : 6

Other findings:

• Uterine prolapse : 3
• Cervical polype delivered : 2
• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) detected: 49

Follow-up: All pathological cases were referred to the public hospital for appropriate medical care.

Personnel involved: 1 Doctor, 8 midwives, 1 griot

La Bonne Nouvelle School : 

Number of students reached through awareness: 280

Number of students screened: 50

• Suspected cases referred : 0

Personnel involved: 1 Doctor, 4 maternity specialists, 2 administrative staff Overall

Total : · Participants reached : 780 · Individuals screened : 461

The campaign has significantly raised health and cancer prevention awareness amongst hundreds of local females in Bobo Dioulasso and surrounding communities, including referrals for medical treatments for suspected cases. The impact on behavioural change has seen several girls and women commit to regular screenings and openly engage in reproductive and sexual health conversations.

Renewed hope and a sense of restored dignity has been stirred among many participants, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.  Numerous women expressed their gratitude to the partners and organisers, recognising this initiative as an act of love and Christian compassion in women’s lives and well-being. The local and school authorities expressed their satisfaction and gratitude, describing it as both educational and life-saving in its role in fostering a stronger culture of prevention among young girls.