HIS EXCELLENCY RATU EPELI NAILATIKAU
CF, LVO, OBE (Mil), OStJ, CSM, MSD
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF FIJI

ADDRESS AT THE ANZ PINKTOBER LAUNCH AND REMEMBRANCE WALK

Vodafone Triangle Saturday, 28th September, 2013
SUVA 6.00a.m.


Vishnu
The ANZ Family
Ladies and Gentlemen
Boys and Girls

Good morning, ni sa bula vinaka, salam alaykum, namaste

I am delighted to be here this morning for the ANZ Pinktober Launch and Remembrance Walk. What better way to start the weekend than with a brisk walk and for such a worthy cause?

Congratulations Vishnu and the ANZ family for this good initiative.

Most of us have been touched in some way or another by the passing of a dear friend or family member to cancer.

And others among us are survivors, whose struggles and life lessons we can only begin to imagine.

October is internationally recognised as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

I am conscious of the stigma that may come with the diagnosis of breast cancer, among other illnesses. Some of this is internally imposed – in other words, sufferers retreat into their own perceptions of what others may think of their circumstances, while dealing with the vicious physical realities of the diagnosis; and some of it is circumstantial and externally imposed by society and backward thinking. Whichever it may be, there is indeed a high degree of internal strength that is required, to push through these hard times – for suffers as well as their friends and families.

Some of you may know that I am a keen advocate for breaking down the barriers associated with the taboo of openly sharing information, and the means of preventing and treating HIV/Aids. In this day and age, this sort of attitude is no longer acceptable.

Nelson Mandela once said: “Let us give publicity to HIV/Aids and not hide it… and people will stop regarding it as something extraordinary.”

In October, through these sorts of awareness initiatives, we are moving a step closer to breaking down the barriers to truly take action: to detect, treat and cure breast cancer.

Let’s talk about this openly as much as we can. Let’s share our stories, our sorrows and our victories. But most importantly, let’s spread the word and celebrate the lives of those departed; and let’s celebrate our own lives and those of our families, colleagues and friends – after all there is so much to be thankful for!

Well done Vishnu and ANZ – let us paint the town pink this October!

Thank you, vinaka vakalevu, sukria, bahoot dhanyavaad.