Breast Cancer Awareness Month: GAC Unites in the Fight Against Breast Cancer

Kamsar, Monday, October 21, 2024 – Guinea Alumina Corporation (GAC) reaffirms its commitment to health and wellness by extending its support for the global ‘Pink October’ initiative. As part of this effort, GAC is launching a breast cancer awareness and screening campaign that will run throughout the month. The campaign places a strong emphasis on the active participation of all employees, both women and men. By extending its outreach, GAC aims to not only raise awareness among its workforce but also actively engage the spouses of its employees.

The active participation of all employees, including men — who make up the majority in the mining sector — is vital to strengthening the fight against one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide. Each year, millions of women and men are affected, with nearly 8,000 cases of breast cancer detected annually in Guinea alone. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment have proven to dramatically increase survival rates.

Building on the success of the 2023 campaign, which offered free screenings to all female employees, GAC is taking its commitment a step further this year by spearheading a collective movement to advance cancer prevention. This year’s initiative broadens its focus to engage both men and women, establishing a shared responsibility that extends within families and throughout the wider community.

On Friday, October 18, ahead of World Breast Cancer Awareness Day and as part of our ongoing commitment to Pink October, an awareness session was organized across our sites under the theme:  ‘Breast Cancer is Everyone’s Concern’.  This initiative featured informative sessions on breast self-examination, hands-on demonstrations, and powerful testimonials, all aimed at fostering preventive measures and promoting early detection — key factors in improving survival rates. In addition, educational resources were made available to enhance understanding and awareness of these critical health issues.

“We are proud to align ourselves with this global movement aimed at raising awareness about the critical importance of regular screenings, self-examinations, and understanding risk factors. In an industry where men represent the majority, we have made their engagement a top priority, aiming to empower them to inspire the women in their lives to embrace life-saving practices,” stated Damba CAMARA, Manager Human Capital.

This commitment underscores GAC's core values by prioritizing the well-being of its employees. GAC recognizes that the active participation of men is crucial in enhancing prevention efforts and combating breast cancer — a cause that transcends gender and calls for collective mobilization.