The Breast Society of Ghana has appealed to all well-meaning Ghanaians to encourage every Ghanaian to be aware of the breast cancer menace, check for the disease and engender early treatment for those who have been diagnosed.
Labeled as the number one killer in the country, advocates at a press launch of this year’s Pink October, a breast cancer awareness program, by the Breast Society of Ghana, have urged Ghanaians not to wait till it is too late to offer treatment to breast cancer.
In a global effort to raise awareness of breast cancer, October has been designated as Pink Month. The Pink October is a month where efforts to educate those concerned about the disease, including early identification and signs and symptoms associated with breast cancer.
Dr. Hannah Ayettey, a senior Breast Cancer advocate, who gave the keynote address at the launch gave an overview of the disease burden in Ghana.
She called on all stakeholders to put their shoulders to the wheel and spread the word of advocacy to all Ghanaians.
Madam Gina Dzagah, a breast cancer survivor who took to the podium to share her ordeal, gave her traumatic experience as a patient.
She highlighted the social, cultural and economic implications that she faced in the aftermath of her diagnosis and during and after treatment.
She added that cancer treatment is expensive even though the NHIS covers some of the cost, so it is good to detect it quickly to be able to mobilize resources early.
Mr Charles Fordjour Agyeman, a pharmacist, who launched the Pink October Campaign, reiterated the significance of the campaign and applauded the local experts and oncologists in Ghana.
He said we need to change the landscape and called for the regulation of the breast Cancer Awareness Campaigns currently going on in Ghana.
He also touched on some realities in the fight against breast cancer and stressed that advocates need to change their approach to creating breast Cancer awareness.
Dr. Lily Paemka, a research scientist at the University of Ghana in an interview with NET2 TV NEWS, applauded the organizers of the program for their initiative and urged all to do well to join the campaign as well as encourage friends and family, whether male or female to check their status.
By:Isaac Clottey
