In observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a collaborative free breast cancer screening event held in Basseterre, St. Kitts this week has wrapped up successfully, drawing more than 55 local residents to access no-cost preventive care. Hosted on Tuesday, October 13, 2026 at the Cayon Street offices of Prime Health Medical — located opposite the Wesleyan Holiness Church — the initiative brought together three key community partners: local breast cancer support nonprofit Reach for Recovery St. Kitts and Nevis (RFR SKB), Prime Health Medical, and the LIONS Club international service network.
Patricia Farrell, president of RFR SKB, shared that organizers were deeply encouraged by the strong public turnout for the event. What made this year’s screening particularly notable, Farrell noted, was a measurable increase in the number of men choosing to undergo breast cancer testing, a shift that signals growing community understanding that breast cancer is not exclusively a women’s health issue.
Dr. Rohan Nariani, who has led this annual preventive health initiative for years, echoed Farrell’s optimism, emphasizing that consistent public outreach and early intervention are life-saving measures. “Awareness and prevention save lives,” he noted, a core principle that guides the ongoing collaborative work between the partners.
Beyond the core screening services, the event incorporated a range of additional community-focused health supports. Student nurses from the local Windsor University contributed their time to assist with clinical screening procedures, while trained volunteer “Reachers” from RFR SKB managed participant registration and provided peer support for attendees. Retired nurse Ida Martin, one of the organization’s long-serving volunteers, also offered free blood pressure and blood glucose testing to participants, reflecting the group’s broader mission to prioritize whole-person health and community wellness. The LIONS Club further supported the outreach effort by selling pink-themed lemonade at the event, a small fundraiser that also helped draw attention to the breast cancer awareness campaign.
Looking ahead, RFR SKB has two more public awareness and fundraising events scheduled for the remainder of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. The first is a Pink Mufti Day, set to take place on Friday, October 23, which invites students at all public and private primary and secondary schools across the country to wear pink clothing in exchange for a $1 donation to the organization’s breast cancer support programs. The second event, titled Learn at Lunch, is a collaborative educational session hosted with local partner TDC, scheduled for Wednesday, October 28 at the TDC Conference Room. Invited local businesses and community groups have been asked to register and support the initiative, which will expand on public education about breast cancer prevention and care.
Founded in 2002 by the late Agnes Farrell, RFR SKB operates out of its community hub known as The Pink Zone in Camps, St. Kitts. The organization provides free educational resources, professional guidance, and emotional peer support for people currently living with breast cancer or navigating recovery after treatment. More than a service center, The Pink Zone serves as a safe, welcoming space where individuals can feel seen, loved, and understood by people who share similar experiences with the disease.