By Morkporkpor Anku
Accra, Oct. 29, GNA – The Meena Breast Cancer Foundation (MBCF) says the high cost of breast cancer treatment in Ghana is a significant obstacle to quality care.
Ms Nina Ahema Duodu, the Advocacy Officer at MBCF, said that addressing the challenge required government policy reforms, private sector engagement and international support.
Ms Duodu was speaking at a press conference to communicate the Foundation’s activities on the issues of breast cancer in Accra.
As part of the Foundation’s commitment to promoting breast health awareness, it has covered the screening costs for many Senior High School students to undergo breast ultrasound examinations.
She said the Foundation’s efforts to provide breast ultrasound screenings for Senior High School students underscored the critical importance of early detection in the fight against the disease.
The Advocacy Officer said the Foundation had realised that many young girls and women did not know about the deadly nature of the disease, and this could be attributed to the failure to regularly educate them on breast cancer and breast care.
She said because of the enormity of the danger caused by breast cancer, education on the disease should be championed by the National Commission for Civic Education.
“If breast cancer education is incorporated in our school system, it will deal with myths and misconceptions about the disease,” she added.
Ms Duodu said the Foundation’s emphasis on breast cancer education was because of the belief that early detection saved lives and the disease had no known causes and barely showed symptoms until a lump was seen.
She said, therefore, in educating women and men on the risk factors, “we believe it will reduce the rate of deaths significantly.”
She believed that while medical treatment was crucial, nutritional support and wellness programmes also play a vital role in enhancing patient’s quality of life and treatment outcomes.
Unfortunately, Ghana currently lacks standardized nutritional support programmes for breast cancer patients.
She said this gap in care necessitated the development of comprehensive nutritional support and wellness programmes tailored to the unique needs of breast cancer patients in Ghana.
Ms Duodu urged healthcare providers to focus on providing personalized dietary counselling, promoting traditional Ghanaian foods rich in nutrients, offering nutrition education and workshops and integrating nutrition into cancer care.
Additionally, wellness programmes such as yoga and meditation sessions, exercise programmes, stress management techniques, and support groups for patients and caregivers were essential.
She said these initiatives could improve patients’ physical, and emotional well-being, enhance their resilience and reduce treatment side effects.
Mr Ibrahim Oppong Kwarteng, the Executive Director of MBCF, said in just two years, the Foundation had lost 20 precious women to the disease and 20 families were torn apart and hearts shattered.
He said the toll of the disease was devastating, and it would not pause for a calendar month.
He urged the government against over-focusing on October as a breast cancer awareness month and spread awareness campaigns and support throughout the year.
The Executive Director said in all the screening and sensitization campaigns that were carried out in schools, communities and religious groups, MBCF recorded frightening suspected cases highlighting the need for urgent attention.
He said when detected early, breast cancer treatment options were more effective, and survival rates increased significantly.
“By targeting young students, we aim to foster a culture of breast health awareness and encourage regular screenings,” he added.
He said of the 7641 students screened, five showed abnormal breast tissue density, highlighting the need for continued education and monitoring.
Mr Kwarteng said their initiative had sparked meaningful conversations among students, teachers and parents, helping to dispel myths and stigmas surrounding breast health.
He said building on their successful screening programme, MBCF planned to expand its reach to more schools and communities across the country.
GNA