Free breast screening for Muslim women in Kumasi
Irregular medical check-ups and late reporting of breast cancer cases to hospitals have been identified as major challenges to the management of the disease.
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The Public Relations Officer of Breast Care International, a beast cancer support group, Madam Afriyie Berniako, explained that although breast cancer had no known cure, early detection of cases could lead to proper treatment and management to prolong the lives of patients.
Madam Berniako made the statement when she addressed some Muslim women in the Kumasi metropolis during a breast screening exercise.
The event, organised by the Coalition for Eid and Gangara for Kumasi, in collaboration with Wilmar Ghana Ltd, manufacturers of Flytol and Fortune rice, saw more than 300 women being screened for breast cancer.
After the screening, breast lumps were discovered in the breast of seven women, who were referred to the Peace and Love Hospital and the Komfo Anokye teaching Hospital for further medical checks.
The women were from Sawaba, Yarewa, Aboabo, Allabar, Tafo Zongo and other communities.
Appeal
Madam Berniako appealed to the women to ensure regular breast screening checks to identify any irregularity, stressing that although people in the low age bracket could be affected, those aged 40 and above were prone to breast cancer.
She explained that for best practices, it would be very prudent for women to adopt self-breast examination at least once every month, explaining that not all diseases associated with the breast were breast cancer.
Madam Berniako said through a collaborative effort, Breast Care International, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital had embarked on a research to establish the cause of breast cancer in order to enhance screening and management.
She mentioned stigmatisation as the major challenge confronting breast care and announced that to help reduce the stigmatisation associated with the disease, a team was going round churches, mosques and other places of gathering to educate people on the need to report breast related problems early.
Caution
Madam Berniako cautioned herbal medicine practitioners who moved round claiming to have a cure for breast cancer to stop such claims, since breast cancer could not be treated with herbal medicine, and rather advised women to seek early treatment by reporting to the hospital.
The President of ANAQ Foundation, a Sickle Cell Advocacy non-governmental organisation, Mrs Ama Nyarko Attafuah Quainoo, urged people to desist from associating the sickle cell disease with superstition because it was a medical condition which could be managed effectively.
She described the current education on sickle cell as very low and dangerous since people who did not know their status would not know how to handle or manage the situation.
Mrs Quainoo, a sickle cell patient, appealed to the government to as a matter of urgency, release funds towards the education and treatment of sickle cell in the country.
The President of the Coalition for Eid and Gangara for Kumasi, Jamal Abdul Nassir, lauded the various stakeholders for their contribution towards the event and pledged the group’s desire to continue organising healthy programmes to improve the lives of people in the community and the country as a whole.
Irregular medical check-ups and late reporting of breast cancer cases to hospitals have been identified major challenges to the management of the disease.