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‘Educate communities on early, regular breast cancer examinations’
Rev Prof Paul Frimpong- Manso-president of FMI
The Frimpong-Manso Institute (FMI) has urged government and stakeholders to continue to educate communities on the need for early and regular breast examinations.
According to the Institute, early detection was the best chance to reduce its adverse effects on women.
This was contained in a statement copied to The Spectator in Accra on Monday.
According to the statement, data from the World Health Organisation (WHO) indicates that 2.3 million women have breast cancer and about 685,000 died from the disease in 2020.
Also in the same year, it said 7.8 million women were reported to be living with breast cancer for five years, making it a predominant cancer among females.
“There is no doubt that breast cancer is a public menace, therefore it needs much attention so that it does not overwhelm our coping health systems,” it said.
Breast cancer, it stated, was said to be exclusive to women but was also now affecting men.
The statement said some risk factors included obesity, excessive alcohol intake, family history, early menarche, tobacco use and postmenopausal therapy.
It added that 50 per cent of breast cancers were without notable risk factors except for being a female and an adult over 40 years.
It said symptoms of breast cancer may include breast lumps, without pain, change in size of breast or nipple appearance and bloody fluid from the nipple while there may also be no signs in the early stage of the cancer.
The statement said the cancer could spread to other organs such as lung, liver and the brain.
In the statement, FMI congratulated health workers in the country for leading the charge against breast cancer through advocacy, screening and survivor management.
The Institute also commended Dr Mrs Beatrice Wiafe Addai of the Breast Care International and Peace and Love Hospitals for championing breast care for over two decades in the country.
“We acknowledge your immense contribution to educating many and providing management for the condition which has improved the quality of life of breast cancer survivors,’ it said.
It therefore urged Ghanaians to promote awareness on the disease and the need for more women to get screened early and on regular basis in the month of October.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
News
113 Cardinals hold 3rd General Congregation in Rome
The 113 Cardinals present in Rome held the third General Congregation on Thursday morning, and announced who will deliver the two pre-conclave meditations.
The Cardinals decided that Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández will celebrate the Mass on the sixth day of the Novemdiales, instead of Cardinal Kevin Farrell.
They agreed that Fr. Donato Ogliari, O.S.B., Abbot of St. Paul Outside the Walls, will deliver the first meditation on Monday, and that Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, Preacher Emeritus of the Papal Household, will deliver the second meditation at the beginning of the conclave, whose starting date has not yet been decided.
The Cardinals began a conversation about the Church and the world, deciding to hold the next General Congregation on Friday morning at 9:00 AM.
The Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, told journalists that 61,000 people have paid their respects to the late Pope Francis as of 1:00 PM on Thursday, adding that St. Peter’s Basilica should close at midnight on Thursday, unless large crowds are still queuing to enter.
Following the Pope’s funeral on Saturday, April 26, a Rosary will be held in front of the Basilica of St. Mary Major on Saturday at 9:00 PM.
Mr. Bruni said the burial service for Pope Francis will take place in private.
Starting the morning of Sunday, April 27, the faithful may begin to visit the tomb of Pope Francis at the Marian Basilica.
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GEXIM deepens relations with US EXIM Bank
A management team of the Ghana Export – Import Bank (GEXIM) led by the Acting Chief Executive, Sylvester Mensah met with the leadership of the Export–Import Bank of the United States (US EXIM) on Wednesday April 23, 2025 in Washington DC, United States of America.
The Acting President and Chairman of US EXIM, Mr. James C. Cruse and Vice President, International Relations, Ms. Isabel Galdiz received the GEXIM delegation, which included Deputy CEO for Banking, Mr. Moses Klu Mensah and Head of International Cooperation, Mr. Jonathan Christopher Koney at the headquarters of US EXIM.
The meeting offered the GEXIM team the opportunity to share the strategic direction of the Bank in line with the resetting agenda of the President of the Republic, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama for the repositioning of the Ghanaian economy into an export-led one by providing the requisite investment to Ghanaian businesses.
Mr. James C. Cruse expressed US EXIM’s eagerness to deepen its existing relations with GEXIM and proposed the signing of a new Cooperative Framework Agreement following the expiration of a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2019 to utilize US EXIM’s medium term loan guarantees to procure machinery by GEXIM for qualified Ghanaian Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).
Mr.Sylvester Mensah thanked the Acting President and Chairman of US EXIM for hosting the GEXIM delegation and reaffirmed the Ghanaian government’s commitment to strengthening trade and investment between Ghana and its global partners for economic transformation of Ghana with GEXIM playing a pivotal role.
The two teams will be meeting on the sidelines of the 2025 US EXIM Annual Conference on 29th and April 30, 2025 to explore possible areas of collaboration and matching Ghanaian businesses to American companies. The meeting ended with an exchange of gifts.
