The Ministry of Health aims to visit 50,000 households by October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, to teach women to do breast self-examinations.

Minister of Health Dr Leslie Ramsammy told the media recently that the 50/9 Project was initiated last October and it falls under the ministry’s programme to prevent and contain breast cancer. Persons are already being trained for the project.

They will then be dispatched countrywide to train and certify volunteers and other health care workers who will be doing the house-to-house calls.

The minister said several experienced gynaecologists developed the curriculum being used for the training. Ramsammy said Guyana has about 200,000 households so the 50/9 minimum target should reach a quarter of the female population.

All training is expected to be completed by April and the house visits will begin in May. According to the minister August and September will be the “mopping-up” months when the 50/9 team will compile data and continue to work to reach the target if they have not exceeded it by then.