Breast care awareness walk launched in Koforidua

The seventh Breast Care International (BCI) Ghana Walk has been launched in Koforidua in the Eastern Region.

The awareness exercise which is on the theme: "Our breast, lets take care of them," comes off on October 14, 2017. It will start from the Prisons Park through some principal streets of Koforidua and is expected to end at the Jackson Park.

The eight kilometres walk is expected to attract about 30,000 participants made up of members of identifiable bodies, government officials, members of the security services and students of senior high schools.

In an address, the founder of Breast Care International (BCI) Ghana, Dr Mrs Beatrice Wiafe Addai, reminded Ghanaians of the deadly nature of breast cancer and urged people to report to the hospital for early treatment rather than seek solutions from herbalists.

She disclosed that so far there were about 800 survivors in the country who were “hale and hearty” and going about their normal duties.

She, therefore, urged women with lumps in their breasts to contact the nearest health institutions for medical attention.

Report to hospital

"You must report to the hospitals first instead of going to herbalists for cure since there is no cure for the disease," she added.

Although she did not give any figures, Dr Addai, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of the Peace and Love Hospital, said breast cancer cases in the Eastern Region were many.

To help arrest the situation, a number of nurses who are the first port of call were being trained to detect breast cancer in its early stages.
She commended the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection for its decision to put people suffering from breast cancer on the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme.

She also expressed appreciation to all partners who had supported BCI Ghana in its endeavour to create enormous awareness on breast cancer in the country.

The Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Tetteh, commended Dr Addai for her role in the breast awareness programme.