Bay honours Pink Hijab Day

PORT Elizabeth's Muslim Women's Network (MWN) is hosting its annual Pink Hijab Day to highlight breast cancer awareness on Saturday at 2pm at the Muslim Movement Hall in Parkside.

Pink Hijab Day is a project to encourage women to don a pink scarf or "Hijab" to show support to those suffering with breast cancer globally, and the MWN will be hosting a high tea where founder of Pink Hijab Day in South Africa, 21-year-old Humairah Jassat, will be the guest speaker.

"While at school a few years ago she became aware of women with breast cancer and how they often shy away from it and in support of these women in her community she established Pink Hijab Day in South Africa," said a spokeswoman for MWN, the Bay NGO established more than 10 years ago.

Although Pink Hijab Day started in America in 1994, it only really got off the ground in South Africa when Jassat took up the project. In 2010, she was recognised for her initiative in raising awareness about breast cancer and won the African Leadership Academy Innovation Prize. "Although breast cancer is the main theme of our events, we need to support childhood cancer this year and have therefore nominated Port Elizabeth Paediatric Oncology Unit as the recipient of this year's event. Dr Johanni Vermeulen will also be attending the function on Saturday," said the spokeswoman.

According to the Pink Hijab website, the goal is to encourage donations to a cancer foundation, help others understand Muslim women, get more women screened for breast cancer, and participate in projects that build the community.

• More information from the MWN Facebook page: MuslimWomen'sNetwork-PortElizabeth, or call 083-650-9406