Breast Care International (BCI) is conducting free breast screening exercises across Ghana to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.
The BCI team, led by Founder and President Dr. (Mrs.) Beatrice Wiafe Addai, has already visited the Ghana Immigration Service (twice), the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, women in aviation under the auspices of Delta Air Lines at the Kotoka International Airport, and the El-Shamal Presbyterian Church at Ofankor, all in the Greater Accra Region.
At each event, Dr. Wiafe repeated her mantra that breast cancer is both curable and treatable, but that early detection and prompt action are key to defeating the disease.
At the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, Commandant Major-General Richard Addo Gyane said the centre is committed to the welfare of its workers and urged the women to take their health seriously.
At the Ghana chapter of women in aviation screening program, sponsored by Delta Airlines, officials including Manoj Kuriakose, General Manager for sales, Middle East, Africa, and India, said the carrier is committed to the fight against breast cancer and encouraged the women to pay particular attention to their breasts and promptly report any suspicious lump to health facilities for diagnosis and treatment.
At the head office of the Ghana Immigration Service, Deputy Comptroller General of the Legal unit, Victoria Baaba, associated herself with the call on women to perform the monthly breast self-examination.
The BCI team also screened several students at Presbyterian Senior High Technical School and Adonten Senior High School, both in Aburi in the Eastern Region. Dr. Wiafe said it is critical to carry the awareness creation message to the youth, who have proven to be good content ambassadors. The school authorities were grateful to the BCI medical team and urged the students to pay attention to their health.
In an overview, Dr. Beatrice Wiafe Addai, who is also the Chief Executive of the Peace and Love Hospitals, said much more needs to be done.
“We will not relent in this campaign until this disease, which afflicts our hardworking women, is brought under control. We are in the business of awareness creation and free screening. The other side of the bargain is an active community response to our content and corporate sponsorship for effective, nationwide information dissemination,” she concluded.
