Blue November: Sefaz joins the campaign and lights up the headquarters building

November 5, 2020 – 5:40 pm
# lighting # prevention # face

The Finance Secretariat of Ceará (Sefaz-Ce) has changed the pink lights for the blue ones in reference to the November Blue campaign, for the prevention and early detection of prostate cancer. The Palácio da Fazenda, located in headquarters I (Av. Alberto Nepomuceno, 2), will be illuminated for the whole month. The disease is the second most common type of cancer among men, behind only skin cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute (Inca).

Since October Sefaz has created the external lighting system with 32 suspended spotlights, directed towards the facade of the historic building, adhering to awareness-raising actions on the early diagnosis of tumors that most affect women and men.

Sefaz’s executive secretary for internal planning and management, Sandra Machado, notes that, unlike October Rosa, which can involve both men and women, the November Blue movement is aimed exclusively at men’s health, sometimes, according to her, ignored. “The Sefaz building has changed color! It is now blue in allusion to the month devoted to a campaign with an emphasis on early detection of prostate cancer. We know that prevention is an essential measure for health and quality of life. And Sefaz is colored to express total alignment with this action in favor of our citizens ”, he underlines.

Blue November campaign
In Brazil, since 2008, initiatives aimed at men have been promoted, with the aim of highlighting the importance of periodic consultations and preventive examinations related to prostate cancer. The Blue November campaign was officially launched in 2012, inspired by the Australian Movember movement, a blend of the English words mustache and november, meaning mustache and november respectively).

Currently, several public and private institutions join the movement. Initiatives such as the lighting of buildings in blue, during the month of November, help to give greater visibility to the cause.

Prostate Cancer

In Brazil, prostate cancer is the second most common among men (behind only non-melanoma skin cancer). More than any other type, it is considered a cancer of the third age, as about 75% of cases worldwide occur from the age of 65. The observed increase in incidence rates in Brazil can be partially justified by the evolution of diagnostic methods (tests), the improvement in the quality of the country’s information systems and the increase in life expectancy.