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Mammogram doesn’t cause breast cancer …Dr Victoria Partey-Newman sets record straight
Dr Victoria Partey-Newman
Mammograms are breast x-rays that help health professionals to detect the minutest lump or abnormality in the breast during screening. But it is surprising to note that some women think this method is rather the cause of breast cancer.
This is one of the myths that Dr Victoria Partey-Newman of the Ladybits Health and Wellness Clinic in Accra debunked when she was contacted by this reporter in line with the awareness campaign on breast cancer which was recently launched by New Times Corporation at the Kaneshie Market Complex in Accra.
According to her, some women who came to the facility refused to be screened with the mammogram for the fear that it could cause breast cancer.
Explaining the importance of the mammogram, she indicated that “when health professionals do the physical screening with their hands and are not clear, they usually refer the patient to do a mammogram scan so that they would have a better and clearer view of what is happening in the breast in order to detect a lump or abnormality.”
“So the notion that doing mammogram screening would cause breast cancer is untrue,” she stressed.
Highlighting other myths associated with the disease, she said breast cancer should not be associated with spirituality as there were many risk factors which exposed women to the disease.
She intimated that it was inappropriate to tag breast cancer a curse or punishment from the gods when women are diagnosed with the disease.
Dr Partey-Newman said excessive use of alcohol; smoking, obesity and lack of exercise among others could increase the risk of contracting the disease, and, therefore, advised women to adopt healthy lifestyles and be proactive in going for regular check-ups and breast screening.
While urging women to report any anomaly in their breasts or any part of their body promptly at the hospital, she noted that there was no scientific proof that anti-perspirant deodorants could also cause breast cancer.
Background
Dr. Victoria Partey-Newman hails from Odumase- Krobo in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality of Eastern Region. She is the fourth of seven children born to Mr. Archibald Partey and Mrs. Beatrice Partey.
She had basic education at St. Martin de Porres School and continued at Wesley Girls where she studied General Science.
“Right from my childhood, I have had keen interest in showing compassion to the sick especially those around me. My siblings used to tease that I like it when people fall sick but I tell them I just like to help the sick that’s when I got the title” Dr. WHO.” My friends were not surprised when I chose to pursue medicine in the university,” she recalled.
Dr. Partey-Newman said she developed keen interest in women’s health having had the opportunity to head the women’s clinic in the hospital she had worked for four years.
“During this period of ‘servitude’, was when I knew there was no turning back and I pledged my life and course to cater for the health needs of the average Ghanaian woman in the area of breast cancer and cervical cancer with regard to breast screenings and cervical cancer screenings which is a form of secondary prevention in the field of public health,” she explained.
Following this, she decided to pursue a Master’s Programme in Public Health at Ensign Global College to have complete knowledge in her endeavours as a Woman’s Health Advocate.
For the past eight years, she had been involved in organising breast and cervical cancer symposia and screenings in various organisations. Through this, she was honoured as one of the recipients of the “Community Service Award” Ensign Global College in 2021.
According to her, the call to empower and attend to the health needs of women led to the establishment of Ladybits Health and Wellness Foundation in 2019, one of the wings or subsidiaries of the Ladybits Health and Wellness Clinic, a preventive service clinic for women.
“The foundation focuses on women in the rural areas and outskirts of Accra who are disadvantaged and cannot afford to have their breasts examined or have Pap smears done for them on regular basis.
“We empower them by teaching them breast self-examination, symptoms and signs they should look out for when it comes to breast and cervical cancer so that they can report early which eventually increases their chances of survival,” she noted.
Dr. Partey-Newman is a twin. She is married to Bishara Nartey Newman and blessed with a son. She loves swimming, singing and enjoying good conversations. Her twin sister is Ms. Vida Partey.
She said “my mother is my strongest inspiration as she always encouraged us to aspire to greater heights.”
By Portia Hutton-Mills
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NHIA set to boost its cybersecurity and IT Infrastructure
The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), in partnership with a leading private cybersecurity solutions provider in Ghana, CyberHawk Limited, is advancing the Authority’s digital infrastructure to ensure seamless operations.
This is to safeguard the Authority’s digital technologies and maintain the trust of active members of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
In this context, the NHIA Management Information System (MIS) Directorate in the Head Office, on February 11, 2024, launched a three-day brainstorming session on the organization’s cybersecurity enhancement agenda.
The MIS Directorate Ag. Director, Mr. Daniel Blankson explained that the collaborative meeting aimed to scrutinize the NHIA’s Information Technology architecture, identifying potential risks and gapsto enhance its cybersecurity posture.
“By leveraging CyberHawk Limited’s expertise, the NHIA seeks to fortify its defenses against cyber threats, protecting sensitive information and maintaining the trust of its members.”
Mr. Blankson applauded the synergy between the two organizations and underscored the Authority’s commitment to embracing cutting-edge technologies and innovative solutions to drive its mission forward.
The Head of Information Security and Standards Unit, in the MIS Directorate, Mr. Ebenezer Hooper, highlighted the Authority’s significant milestone on the digital transformation journey.
According to him, the NHIA is actively engaged in fully adopting and implementing modern digital systems to improve its operations.
He said, “The three-day brainstorming meeting will culminate in the development of a robust IT infrastructure, as well as strategic plans to translate security implementations into tangible IT cost savings for the organization.”
“There is the need to form a steering committee or IT advisory committee, operated under the Board, so that they can pay more attention in protecting the huge IT investment while ensuring cyber security-related policies are well protected,” he added.
The Project Manager of CyberHawk Limited, Mr. Chetan Narayana Murthy, lauded the collaboration and anticipated that it would empower the NHIA to implement comprehensive cybersecurity measures.
According to him, “This is a huge project that will greatly benefit the NHIA by implementing robust cybersecurity measures, safeguarding their systems, and ultimately protecting the sensitive information of NHIA members and healthcare providers.”
A Senior Manager of IT infrastructure, Mr. David Asare Addo, and his colleague, a Senior Manager of Applications, Mr. Enock Afanyi, with the MIS Directorate, gave an overview of the NHIA’s current technological landscape.
Present at the meeting were representatives from the Claims, Membership and Regional Operations (MRO), Research, Policy, Monitoring, and Evaluation (RPME), Corporate Affairs, the Audit, Administration, and Human Resource Directorates.
Story By : Vivian Arthur
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Swedru All Blacks back to winning ways, Roshan humble King Faisal
Sekondi Rospak FC made it eight wins in eight successive home games after three second-half goals from John Amoah, Joseph Ntow and Stephen Anthony Kofi. John Amoah opened the scoring in the 55th minute after a barren first half. Joseph Ntow added to the tally in the 56th minute before Stephen Anthony Kofi rounded things up in the 74th minute to give Rospak a 3-0 win over former Premier League side King Faisal.
Elsewhere at Swedru – leaders Swedru All Blacks humbled PAC Academy in an emphatic 2-0 win. Zayat Bubakari scored first for Swedru All Blacks in the 27th minute before Rudolf Junior Nana Kwasi Mensah made it 2-0 in the 34th minute. Swedru All Blacks are top of the table with 36 points – 4 points ahead of second placed Rospak FC.
Meanwhile, Former Premier League side Cape Coast Mysterious Dwarfs recorded their fourth successive home victory after beaten New Edubiase United 2-1 at the Robert Mensah Park. Enoch Odoom struck first for Cape Coast Mysterious Dwarfs in the 19th minute but Steven Asante equalized for New Edubiase United before halftime. After the interval, Godfred Eshun scored from distance in the 65th minute to help Cape Coast Mysterious Dwarfs secure all the points.
Here are the results in Zone Two
