By Tilda Acorlor
The Volta Regional Branch of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) Ladies Association, in collaboration with the Ho Teaching Hospital, has organised a free breast cancer screening exercise for listeners of Volta Star Radio and the public in Ho, the Volta Regional capital.
The exercise, which forms part of global advocacy on breast cancer awareness, was aimed at sensitising the public on the importance of regular screening.
More than 100 people showed up for the 1-day program at the premises of the regional Radio station and were screened and educated by doctors and nurses.
They were advised on how to self-check and be health-mindful of their breasts.
The Volta Regional President of GBC Ladies, Patience Esi Tamakloe, said life is beyond breast cancer if detected early and treated on time.
She urged women to go for regular check-ups to seek prompt healthcare.
“Breast cancer can affect both young and old women and men. We know that early detection of it can save lives, so we GBC Ladies as part of our mandate to talk about issues of women, have organised the free breast cancer screening here at our premises and as a media organisation to encourage women to screen and take care of their health,” Miss Esi Tamakloe said.
Miss Tamakloe revealed that this was the association’s major event and that it will embark on several others, like joining the management of Volta Star to support victims affected by flooding in the Three Tongu District (South, North, and Central) due to the Akosombo Dam Spillage.
“This is our first event. We will be embarking on several others to champion the issues and challenges of women. Our next program will be reaching out together with the management of GBC Volta.”
A surgeon at the surgical unit of the Ho Teaching Hospital who led the team for the free breast cancer screening, Dr. Richmond Akpakah, described the exercise as successful. He commended the GBC Ladies for organising an incredible event.
Doctor Amakpa urged the association to continue to organise more health and education programs to help sensitise and improve the health of listeners and the general public.
He also revealed that some suspicious cases that looked like breast cancer were identified and have been referred to the hospital for further assessments.
An elated 65-year-old beneficiary of the free breast cancer screening, Madam Eyram Amenu, told reporters her daughters discouraged her from coming for the screening exercise because she was too old to get breast cancer, but she declined their resistance.
She advised everyone to go through the smooth process of screening and taking care of their health.
However, doctors say breast cancer is no respecter of age.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is observed every year in October. Sometimes referred to as Pink October, it is meant to observe, educate, and encourage more breast screening among the public, both men and women, especially among women.
According to Teva, a health and pharmaceutical company’s website, whose aim is to improve the lives of people through good medicine, studies have shown that women in Ghana are diagnosed at more advanced stages of the disease; up to 70% of women have advanced-stage cancer by the time it is identified. This frequently comes down to a lack of awareness and education, as well as common myths and misconceptions.