Ghana Health News-The President of Breast Care International (BCI), Dr Beatrice Wiafe Addai has urged Ghanaians to support the campaign and fight against breast cancer in the country.
Ghana, the cancer surgeon noted needs a robust campaign as well as massive sensitization effort in fighting against the disease.
Speaking during at this year’s press launch of the upcoming Walk for the Cure to be staged in Tamale, the capital of the Northern Region, Dr Wiafe expressed worry about the increasing rate of cancers in the country.
Recent statistics, the surgeon revealed shows one out of every Eight (8) women in Ghana have the breast cancer disease.
‘’It’s getting alarming the rate at which our women and ladies are getting the disease as records show one out of every eight women have it’’, Dr Wiafe tearfully noted.
DETAILS:
Currently, 4, 645 cases have been recorded and this is double the figures that existed in 2012, Dr Wiafe Addai disclosed.
She blamed the worsening situation on the lack of adequate information and awareness of the disease in rural areas where 70 percent of cancer deaths occur.
The BCI President said the recent tour of schools in Tamale and other parts of the region had revealed that many still do not know much of the disease.
She mentioned efforts her outfit with support from the survivors group had put in to teach women and ladies how to conduct simple breast checks, adding signs of lumps in the breast should be reported to the hospital immediately.
‘’Most ladies do not know lumps in the breasts are signs of the disease and surprisingly that is a trend we are seeing all over the country but we encourage every woman to report to the hospital anytime they see signs of lumps in their breasts’’, Dr Wiafe urged.
REGIONAL MINISTER:
Speaking at the function, the Northern Regional Minister, Salifu Saeed commended BCI for choosing the region for the upcoming national awareness walk for the Cure Campaign.
Mr Saeed assured the organizers of government’s support as well as the Northern Regional Coordinating Council (NRCC) to ensure the October 27 walk becomes a success.
The Minister noted threats of breast cancer was real and urged stakeholders to help carry out more education about the disease.
This, he noted will be a way of helping to stem the worrying tide and to show those who have the disease the available therapies at the hospital for treatment.
‘’I commend BCI and in particular Dr Wiafe Addai for choosing the Northern Region to launch and stage this year’s walk for the cure and I promise the organizers support from my outfit to ensure we have a very successful walk in October 27th’’, the Minister stated.
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