23 October 2013 - In commemoration of October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, more than 100 people gathered at the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong on October 20 to attend a health forum on breast cancer and HIV/AIDS. The event was co-organized with the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) of Hong Kong.

Devi Novianti, EOC Corporate Communications Officer, cautioned the audience that their employers cannot automatically terminate their contracts should they fall ill as they may be liable under the Disability Discrimination Ordinance. However, the EOC and the courts (if applicable) will also have to take the interests of the employer into consideration and render a decision accordingly.

Dr. Sharmila Gurung, Project Manager of the South Asian Health Support Programme, narrated the importance of detecting breast cancer in its early stages in prolonging life expectancies. She also demonstrated the proper way to conduct breast self-examination, which should be performed monthly.

Elijah Fung, Program Manager of the HIV Education Centre of St. John’s Cathedral, shared some statistics on the rising incidence of HIV infections in the Philippines as well as the social stigma involved for those infected with the virus.

Volunteers organized by the EOC were also on hand to provide diagnostic tests such as blood pressure, blood glucose, and body fat analysis to the forum attendees.

A follow-up clinical breast cancer screening co-organized with the Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foundation Breast Health Centre will be conducted on October 27. END