Embassy organises seminar on breast cancer
The Ghana High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa, has organised a talk on the early detection, prevention and treatment of breast cancer for its staff.
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The talk was followed with a breast screening exercise organised through the collaborative efforts of Mrs Martha Pobee, acting Head of Mission, and Mr Lawrence Azumah, head of the Consular section.
Dr (Mrs) Beatrice Wiafe-Addai, the President of Breast Care International (BCI), a major health non-governmental organisation in Ghana, gave them an insight into the ravages of the disease.
She had made a stop over in Pretoria on her way back to Ghana after attending the First Ladies’ summit recently held in Dar es Salaam, which was attended by Mrs Michel Obama and Mrs Laura Bush, both of the United States of America. Her participation was at the invitation of the USA-based President Bush Institute.
Dr Wiafe-Addai, a consultant breast surgeon and Chief Executive of Peace and Love hospitals in Accra and Kumasi, briefed the staff on the breast cancer situation in Ghana and the rising incidence of the disease world-wide.
She was happy that South Africa could boast ultra-modern medical facilities and therefore advised the staff to go for regular breast examinations and report any adverse findings promptly for attention.
Dr Wiafe-Addai made it clear that “breast cancer is curable but the earlier it is reported, the better the treatment.”
She praised the leadership of the mission for its concern about the health of the staff and remarked that “if all heads of our establishments would think about the health of their staff, productivity would be enhanced and national development guaranteed.”
The staff asked various questions bordering on myths surrounding the disease.