Dr Mrs Beatrice Wiafe Addai (3rd from right) President of BCI with Hon Alex Tetteh, MP for Sefwi Akontombra (1st right) and others during the launch of the 2024 Walk For The Cure.
BCI “Walk For The Cure” Set For October 12 In Ejisu.
The now institutionalised annual walk by Breast Care International (BCI) dubbed “Walk For The Cure” has been set for the 12th of October, 2024 with Ejisu Municipality expected to host over 20, 000 patrons on the day.
The BCI “Walk For The Cure” is the biggest health sensitization drive where patrons including high profile personalities and public officers hold banners and flyers as well as other outdoor publicity materials to drum home the awareness about breast cancer.
Since its inception, former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and John Mahama have had the chance to participate and this year, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is expected to grace the occasion in Ejisu as well as other notable personalities including chiefs.
Speaking at the launch at the Peace and Love Hospitals in Oduom, a suburb of the Oforikrom Municipality on Tuesday, Dr Mrs Beatrice Wiafe Addai, CEO of BCI said the walk will be used to educate the public about the dangers of breast cancer and the need to seek for early diagnosis and treatment anytime one realises unusual occurences happening in the breast.
Details:
Since 2020 about 5, 000 cases of breast cancers have been recorded with 2, 300 sadly dying from same, the BCI President revealed.
Dr Wiafe Addai, a famous cancer surgeon expressed worry about the situation, adding that it needs to be tackled head on.
“We are determined to use these walks including the upcoming walk to create awareness of the dangers of the disease as well as the remedial treatment available”, Dr Wiafe Addai stated.
The BCI President thanked sponsors for the upcoming walk but said the biggest threat to getting the issue of breast cancer addressed has been misconceptions and mytys as well as stigma attached to the disease with some claiming that it is a spiritual disease and thereby shunning those who are known to be living with same.
Member of Parliament:
Member of Parliament (MP) for Sefwi Akontombra, Hon Alex Tetteh commended Dr Wiafe Addai for sustaining advocacy and sensitization of breast cancer for close to two decades.
He said a constituent in his area had breast issues and the diagnosis and treatment was so huge that he had to fall on the Vice President, Dr Mahamodu Bawumia to help with some funds.
The MP said it was therefore gratifying to hear that the BCI President at times treat poor patients for free.
“As we launch the upcoming walk today, i urge the government to consider some funding for Dr Beatrice Wiafe Addai to motivate her to carry on with advocacy, sensitization and treatment for breast cancers” Hon Tetteh appealed.
Others:
Taking their turns to address the gathering, the Municipal Directors of Health from Oforikrom and Ejisu commended Dr Wiafe Addai and BCI for sustaining advocacy and sensitization on Breast cancer.
Representative of headline sponsors, Delta Airlines as well as Jackson University College and others pledged their support to the “Walk For the Cure”.
Delta Airlines promised increased support for the activities of BCI and Dr Wiafe Addai to ensure that the public gain awareness of breast cancer as well as the treatment measures available for early diagnosis and detection.
END
Thank you for such innovative and initiative for our Mother’s and wife.