News
Report cancer cases to qualified health professionals
The President of the Breast Care International (BCI), Dr Beatrice Wiafe-Addai, has observed that “Some patients come with end-stage conditions of cancer, following prolonged days at quack health facilities.”
Dr Wiafe-Addai, who is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Peace and Love Hospitals, said the trend where “cancer treatment in Ghana is mired in superstition and bogged down by mounting financial challenges,” was worrying.
She indicated that this at Beposo, in the Bosomtwe district of the Ashanti region, on World Cancer Day 2025, which was observed on Tuesday, under the theme: ‘United by Unique.’
World Cancer Day aims to improve awareness and knowledge of cancer so that it can be better detected and treated.
The day, organised by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), brought scores of residents and students of Beposo for sensitisation on the disease.
According to her, it was important to wage “a sustained, vigorous education on cancers countrywide for the people to be enlightened about the disease and change the belief that the disease has spiritual elements.”
Furthermore, Dr Wiafe-Addai stated that the high cost of cancer treatment of has put most of the survivors into poverty, and that there was the need to support them, “because everybody is a potential cancer and other communicable disease patient.”
She then urged the government, as a matter of urgency, to put cancer patients on the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) as a source of support for them.
In her suggestion to help increase cancer education in Ghana, she called for the evolution of people-centred programmes and policies to ameliorate the plight of cancer patients.
“A people’s centred approach leads to improved patients’ well-being, higher quality care, and increased trust in healthcare providers,” she stated, adding that people-centred care included initiatives such as community health programmes tailored to local health issues and cultural competence training for healthcare providers, among others.
Dr Wiafe Addai advised women not to treat cancer-related diseases spiritually but rather to seek early medical attention “because the disease is not caused by any supernatural activity.”
“The cancer disease is curable, preventable, and treatable. At least visit your hospitals for a thorough medical checkup once a year to prevent escalation of the disease,” she added.
Dr Cary Adams, CEO of UICC noted that the theme (United By Unique) recognised that “every experience with cancer was unique and everyone has unique needs, unique perspectives and a unique story to tell, that people touched by cancer are improved, are united in a shared ambition to see governments implement policies to improve cancer prevention.”
Nana Atakora Bonsrah I, the Caretaker of Ankaase, expressed gratitude to Breast Care International and their partners for the sensitisation and screening of the residents in the area to create the awareness on cancer.
He said the awareness creation was the best way to prevent the disease, and called on stakeholders in the health sector, individuals and corporate organisations to get involved in the fight against cancer.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kum
News
No announcement of artistes for ‘Shades of Love Concert’ — Akwaboah
Highlife musician, Gladstorm Kwabena Akwaboah Jnr., known in showbiz circles as Akwaboah has explained why he will not announce the guest artistes performing at his ‘Shades of Love concert’ on Valentine’s Day.
According to him, past experiences have taught him that publicising guest artistes can be risky, as some would fail to show up.
To avoid deceiving the public with the names of artistes who may not perform, Akwaboah has decided to keep the guest acts a secret.
“I’ve had experiences in the past where I made guest artistes public, and they failed to show up. Some even attended rehearsals but didn’t appear for the event itself.
“Since people often buy tickets because their favourite artistes are performing, I don’t want to advertise names and risk some not showing up, making it seem like I deceived the public. So, I’ve decided not to make it public,” he explained.
Akwaboah’s ‘Shades Of Love Concert is scheduled for February 14, 2025, at the Palms Convention Centre to celebrate love on Valentine’s Day.
News
Keta Municipal hospital organises free cervical cancer screening
The Keta Municipal Hospital in the Volta Region has ended this year’s cervical cancer awareness month of January with free screening exercise.
The screening exercise was also used to educate the public on the causes, preventions, management and the effects of the disease.
Dr Martha Ampadu, a Gynaecologist at the Keta Municipal Hospital, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said that cervical cancer was deadly and the public should prioritise their health and get screened against cancer and other diseases.
Cervical cancer always occurs in the cervix, which is the lower part of the uterus in the female reproductive system which typically develops over time, and it is often caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and dangers associated with this disease include death,” she said.
She said that other risk factors that can increase the likelihood of developing cervical cancer include sexual intercourse at a tender age, having multiple sexual partners, weakened immune system, smoking, poor diet and lack of exercise, among others.
Dr Ampadu explained that some common symptoms of cervical cancer include abnormal vaginal bleeding between monthly periods and after sex, pain during sex, unusual vaginal discharge, bad odour, weight loss and fatigue, bleeding after menopause, pelvic pains, loss of appetite and others.
“The only way to detect cervical cancer is through a routine test or screening to check for abdominal cell changes in the cervix and to check for the present of high risk HPV types that can cause cervical cancer and that was the aim for our screening for the month.”
She said that some methods of preventing cervical cancer was by through Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine which was recommended people between the aged 12 and 26, and regular screening, practicing safe sex and limited number of sexual partners, avoid early sex and smoking, as well as engaging in regular exercise.
Dr Ampadu said that over 200 women were screened for the cervical cancer disease within the month of January, “and from Monday those who will come for the screening will be made to pay for it.”
She appealed to the public to as a matter of urgency prioritise their health and get screened as early as possible for early detection and treatment to prevent any unforeseen circumstances that could lead to death of the victims.
She urged all to visit the hospital with a valid National Health Insurance Card regularly when they suspect any bad feeling within the body for urgent attention and vaccination.
Some beneficiaries GNA interviewed expressed gratitude to the health workers and thanked them for the kind gestures. The theme of this year’s cervical cancer awareness month was, “screen, learn, vaccinate.”
