Cancer Day marked with outreach programme
Ghana joined the global community to observe this year’s World Cancer Day on February 4. The global event, which takes place every year on February 4, is aimed at preventing millions of preventable deaths each year by raising awareness and education about the disease, thereby impressing upon governments and individuals across the world to take action.
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As part of activities marking the celebration in Ghana, Breast Care International in collaboration with Delta Airlines, organised an outreach programme at the Power House Assemblies of God Church at Nkawkaw in the Eastern Region.
The event was on the theme: “WE CAN, I CAN”. As part of the celebrations, BCI handed over 10 customised footballs, with the “WE CAN, I CAN” slogan to some selected senior high schools, to inculcate the culture of exercising in them, since lack of exercise is known to be a risk factor in the development of non-communicable diseases.
Growing public health concern
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), cancer is a growing public health concern. In 2012, there were 14.1 million new cases and 8.2 million cancer-related deaths worldwide.
The number of new cases is projected to increase to 21.7 million annually by 2030. The greatest impact is in low and middle-income countries, many of which are ill equipped to cope with the escalating burden of the disease.
Addressing the ceremony, the President of Breast Care International, Dr (Mrs) Beatrice Wiafe Addai, advised the youth to draw on the immense popularity and influence of social media to highlight the risks associated with cancers and their devastating effects on individuals, families, friends, society and national productivity levels.
She noted that more young women were reporting advanced stages of breast cancer in addition to the number of men who were also reporting the disease.
Communication tools
Dr Wiafe Addai who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Peace and Love Hospitals, said BCI had reviewed and devised new communication tools and strategies which dovetailed into both traditional and social media platforms in its renewed and unwavering determination to create and sustain awareness about cancers, especially among the youthful population.
Other specialists including Dr Samuel Amanama, a urologist, Dr Augustine Tawiah, a gynecologist and Dr Peditha Adu Kyei, an Optometrist at the Peace and Love Hospitals, and members of the BCI team highlighted some of the risk factors of cancers, and charged members to undergo regular screening.
The Eastern Regional Minister designate, Dr Eric Kwakye Darfour commended BCI for its outreach programme and pledged his support to the organisation.
Actress Nana Ama MacBrown advised the gathering to report early to the hospital to prevent any cancer-related death.