The International Maritime Hospital (IMaH) has launched its 2026 Pink October campaign with a call for intensified breast cancer screening and early medical intervention to reduce deaths from the disease.
The Chief Executive Officer of IMaH, Dr Vitus Victor Anaab-Bisi, made the call in Tema when the hospital launched the campaign on the theme, “Early Action, Better Outcomes.”
Dr Anaab-Bisi said Ghana recorded an estimated 5,487 new breast cancer cases and 2,695 deaths in 2024, describing the figures as a major public health concern.
"These statistics represent mothers, wives, daughters, sisters, colleagues and friends and should motivate people to take action to protect their health."
He said delayed detection could make treatment more difficult and worsen outcomes, and urged individuals, families and communities to take breast cancer seriously.
Dr Anaab-Bisi announced that IMaH would provide free breast cancer screening throughout October as part of efforts to encourage more people to know their breast health status.
He said the hospital would also take breast cancer education and screening to communities and corporate organisations, while offering significant discounts on mammograms and ultrasound scans for clients requiring further assessment.
He urged men to pay attention to their own breast health and encourage women in their families and workplaces to undergo screening. “Men can also get breast cancer,” he stressed.
Awareness
A specialist in Oncology and Radiation Therapy and member of the Breast Society of Ghana, Dr Juanita Brehua-Nkansah, who was the guest speaker, said breast cancer could develop without obvious symptoms.
She urged women to seek medical attention if they noticed a new lump, changes in breast size or skin, abnormal nipple discharge or nipple retraction.
“Do not wait for pain before seeking medical care,” she said, explaining that breast cancer lumps might not be painful.”
Dr Brehua-Nkansah advised women to be familiar with their breasts and to report unusual changes promptly. She also advised women aged 40 and above to undergo mammography at intervals of one to three years.
The Director of Health Services for Tema West, Dr Mercy Obrenpong Owusu, who chaired the ceremony, urged women to know their bodies and seek medical attention when they noticed unusual changes.
She also called on men, employers and community leaders to support women to undergo screening and treatment.
Survivor's story
A breast cancer survivor, Bridget Emefa Van-Johnson, shared her experience after discovering a lump in her armpit in February last year.
She said following investigations and a biopsy, she underwent six sessions of chemotherapy and surgery.
Ms Van-Johnson described the treatment as challenging but said the support of her family and medical team helped her through the process.
She urged women to pay attention to changes in their bodies and seek professional advice when concerned.
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