"Never has a night defeated the dawn, and never has a problem defeated hope." (Bern Williams).

Let's raise awareness! Let's raise awareness! There will always be something left. The main objective of the monthly campaign organized every October is to encourage women to adopt more virtuous behaviors, especially to prevent cancers, presented as "feminine", of the breast and the cervix. Female cancers? In terms of communication for behavioral change, one can legitimately be surprised by such a formulation. Because, here, "feminine" refers only to cervical cancer, while breast cancer concerns both women and men. It is therefore necessary to salute all the sensitizers who reminded us of this truth that was hidden in the processions of hundreds if not thousands of women who indulged in the ritual of the unavoidable fitness that usually starts the activities of pink October: men are also affected by breast cancer.

Most of the women impacted by the campaign were surely attentive to the messages delivered to them by social communicators. Many less, no doubt, have taken the step of screening. It is the law of the genre: to hope to break down fears, which are sometimes unjustified, educational work on this phase must be done over the long term. In the field of health, more than anywhere else, and recent examples prove it, obtaining a change in behavior from the general public is not an easy task.

As a public health issue, the fight against breast and cervical cancer has the magic power to mobilize, for a month, men and women of all conditions, young and old, associations, administrations or even "societal" companies.

Sure that, seen from the rest of the Universe, the whole planet Earth has been transformed, for thirty-one days, into a gigantic pink ball, one of the colors of the eponymous flower which, it is said, in the language of flowers, according to its different tonalities, which go from white to red, is full of symbols. Let's remember that when it is pink, the queen of flowers evokes sweetness, tenderness, attachment, gratitude and, of course, love, even if this last feeling is not as vivid as when it is embodied by the red rose.

This year, the color pink has been associated with healthy living. Practicing regular physical activity and adopting a healthy diet reduces the risk of cancer, we learn. Finally, this is an opportunity for us to pay attention to the many nutritionists who have been shouting for quite some time about the need to adopt a new philosophy of life, avoiding the consumption of certain processed products and seeking a better harmony between one's body, one's mind and one's environment, which is the guarantee of a healthy and balanced life. This requires willpower, motivation

motivation, perseverance and takes time. It also induces a behavioral change that is not self-evident with regard to the daily routine, but it is worth the effort; at least to try.

Breast cancer screening is done once every two years; cervical cancer screening is done once every three years; screening is free of charge in public hospitals, after making an appointment; and it can be done throughout the year; so you don't have to wait until October to get involved. 80% of these cancers can be cured, if they are detected early. These are all things to know that should not only reassure people but encourage them to go. So many things to know that should arouse hope... that makes you live.

BY FAITHFUL AFANOU EDEMBE

C O O R D O N A T O R O F T H E S O S C O F T H E O G O O U E - M A R I T I M E