Pink October in Morocco: health ministry pushes early screening

This update focuses on Pink October Morocco. As Pink October begins, Morocco is putting breast and cervical cancer prevention in the spotlight with a nationwide campaign led by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection.

Pink October Morocco: a campaign running all month

From 1 to 31 October 2026, the ministry is joining the global breast cancer awareness month under the slogan: “Your health is precious… prevention and early detection protect you”.

This year’s Pink October Morocco campaign focuses on two priorities: clear information and practical access to screening services in public facilities.

For Moroccans living abroad who are visiting the country, this period is an opportunity to schedule a check-up or update their daughters’ vaccinations at nearby public health centres.

Prevention, screening and HPV vaccination

According to the ministry, the campaign aims to:

• raise awareness about the importance of prevention and early screening;
• highlight free or covered services provided under the national programme;
• encourage eligible women to attend health centres.

The campaign targets two main areas:

1. HPV vaccination
It focuses on vaccinating 11‑year‑old girls against the human papillomavirus (HPV), the main risk factor for cervical cancer.

Families, including those based abroad, who are planning a trip to Morocco this month can ask at public health centres how to vaccinate eligible girls.

2. Early screening
The national programme offers organised screening for women within specific age groups to detect suspicious breast or cervical lesions as early as possible and enable rapid treatment.

Worrying figures from Casablanca-Settat

The ministry underlines that its efforts are guided by data from the Casablanca‑Settat Cancer Registry for the 2018‑2021 period.

In this registry, breast cancer ranks first among cancers affecting women, accounting for 39.1% of recorded cases. Cervical cancer comes fourth, with 6.5% of cases.

These figures highlight the public health challenge Morocco faces and support the priority given to early detection within Pink October Morocco.

Part of a broader national cancer strategy

The ministry stresses that the Pink October campaign is part of a longer-term national policy on cancer prevention and control.

The foundations of this policy were laid by the first National Plan 2010‑2019 and continue through the development of the National Cancer Prevention and Control Programme, which covers:

• prevention measures (information, vaccination, risk reduction);
• organised early screening;
• diagnosis and referral of patients;
• treatment in specialised facilities.

The ministry also points to coordination with various partners and health institutions, both public and associated, to improve access to screening and treatment services.

A message for Moroccan women everywhere

Beyond borders, the campaign’s message is addressed to all Moroccan women: timely screening can save lives.

For families living abroad, a visit to Morocco can be the right time to accompany mothers, aunts or grandmothers to a health centre, get information on available services and encourage regular check-ups.

The ministry urges women not to wait for symptoms before consulting a doctor and reminds them that prevention and early detection remain the most effective shields against breast and cervical cancers.

For more context, readers can follow Canal212 news for Moroccans abroad.

For official updates, readers can check the relevant official source.