Pink October is a communication campaign organized every year and intended for the sensibilisation and the screening of the breast cancer. Originally from the United States, this mobilization took place for the first time in 1985 and has its origins in a partnership between the American Cancer Society and the pharmaceutical department of the company Imperial Chemical Industries.
For the record, the American Cancer Society was founded in 1913 by 15 doctors and businessmen. At that time, it was difficult to pronounce the word "cancer" in public. Imperial Chemical Industries was founded in 1926 and is one of the largest chemical companies in the world. It started its pharmaceutical production in the 1940s.
Whose idea was Pink October?
In 1992, Evelyn H. Lauder, vice president of Esthée Lauder, and Alexandra Penney, editor-in-chief of Self magazine, joined forces to create a special edition on breast cancer. Esthée Lauder's daughter-in-law is in remission and wants to inform women about the issue. They will then launch their foundation named "Le cancer du sein, parlons-en!" for breast cancer research from which the prevention campaign will follow.
Why the pink ribbon?
The ribbon has been a symbol of struggle for many years and represents many causes and struggles. The first woman to use a ribbon to embody a cause was the American Peney Laingen, who campaigned for the release of her husband, a hostage in Iran. She used green ribbons that she hung on trees. In 1990, the image was used in red in the fight against the AIDS virus.
The color pink was chosen to represent the fight against breast cancer because it is a feminine, soft and joyful color that embodies women. Moreover, pink was one of the best-selling colors of Offray, the largest ribbon company in the world. The pink ribbon has become an international symbol in the fight against breast cancer.
How is pink October commemorated in Benin?
As in all countries of the world, the month of pink October is commemorated in Benin through various awareness campaigns, races organized for the occasion and even fitness sessions. Unfortunately, the current health context makes it difficult to organize such events. Nevertheless, awareness raising via social networks is going well. Through the #breastcancerawareness, OASIS BENIN raises awareness and informs Internet users about breast cancer. Moreover, the sixth edition of the Benin Pink Project always organized by OASIS BENIN will be held despite COVID-19. It will be a great campaign of communication and sensitization around the subject. We hope that the sanitary context linked to the Coronavirus will not reduce the impact of sensitizations because breast cancer does not strike only in October.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
L'Africaine Vie Benin engaged
We invite all women to palpate themselves, have mammograms and pay special attention to their breasts in order to detect the existence of this malignant tumor in time.
By Jolyane RODRIGUEZ & Mélika TCHIAKPE
EN 
FR 