Some stakeholders during the Breast Cancer symposium at UCC
Danquah Institute (DI) has stressed the need for all to commit to efforts aimed at reducing cases of breast cancer in the country.
It believes increasing awareness for early detection, and encouraging the public to break the myth surrounding the disease is crucial in the fight against the debilitating disease.
The call by the think tank followed the holding of a symposium at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) on breast cancer, where 154 people got screened, and six cases were detected.
The symposium, which was organised in partnership with the Women’s Commission under the Senior Staff Association of the University of Cape Coast and the Breast Care International, had a total of 154 students and staff from the University community screened.
Out of the number screened, it emerged that six cases were recorded, between the ages of 20- 40 years, with the youngest being 21 and oldest 40 years.
Delivering a speech on behalf of DI Executive Director, the Board Secretary of the Institute, Mansa Williams, said the Institute prides itself in creating more of such platforms for dialogue, and to add to knowledge for informed decision making for policymakers on subjects of national importance and the wellbeing of the people.
She said the programme is important in helping change attitudes positively towards the fight against the disease because breast cancer is an ailment that inflicts the country, particularly those in the productive sectors who are predominantly female.
“Globally, it can’t be taken for granted as it affects mostly women. In Ghana, 31.8% of cancer cases are breast cancer and mostly diagnosed at the advanced stages, unlike in the developed world where a high percentage of cases are detected at the early stages,” he stated.
Consciousness key
She believes that the more Ghana developes conscious efforts to deepen the country’s knowledge about the disease, change in attitudes and cultivation of positive habit will help augment the fight, including frequent screening.
The Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Professor Rosemond Boohene, noted that breast cancer is a health red flag which must attract the attention of policymakers, health experts, traditional authorities and the ordinary citizens in holistically fighting it.
She expressed her appreciation to the Danquah Institute for bearing the cost of the screening and consultation exercise for the University community by bringing on board Breast Care International.
She stressed that breast cancer is the leading type of cancer in women.
“When the pandemic hit, people with breast cancer found themselves in a difficult situation, with a lot of them at high risk of contracting the virus owing to hospitals being overwhelmed, resulting in some extreme cases even being postponed,” she recounted.
She observed that in 2020, there were 2.3 million diagnoses of breast cancer and 685,000 deaths globally, with higher mortality rate of women in developing countries.
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