By Erica Apeatua Addo
Awudua (W/R), Feb. 18, GNA -To address the issue of childhood cancer, Gold Fields Ghana Foundation (GFGF) in collaboration with the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipal Assembly, has commenced an awareness creation drive on the ailment.
The programme, which is also to promote early detection and treatment, would run across the Foundation’s twenty-one host communities.
It is currently operating in the Tarkwa Nsuaem and Prestea Huni-Valley Municipal Assemblies.
Mr Abdel-Razak Yakubu, Executive Secretary of the GFGF, disclosed this when they observed the 2025 International Childhood Cancer Day with residents of Awudua, one of its host communities.
International Childhood Cancer Day falls on February 15 every year.
He said “We often see parents begging for arms along our roads and streets to get resources to treat their children most of whom they suspect to have cancer.
Such scenes are not very pleasing, and it is abuse of the rights of those children that they bring by the roadside, get exposed to elements just because we want to raise funds to treat them.”
“Luckily, we understand childhood cancer has been included in the conditions NHIS programme covers, so when we decided to hold this event, we thought of bringing officers from the NHIS office in Tarkwa to register many children”
“Our target is to register everyone in Awudua especially those under 18 years and renew expired premium. Now with this NHIS card, if a child has any issue relating to cancer, they can get treatment from any hospital without going through stress for funding” Mr Yakubu indicated
He emphasized that the Foundation would continue to engage the NHIS team whenever they organized health awareness programme to ensure everyone in their operational area got enrolled onto the scheme.
Sensitizing parents, caregivers and the public on childhood cancer, Mr Enoch Atta Aggrey, Health Promotion Officer at Prestea Huni-Valley Municipal Assembly, explained that smoking in the house, using mercury without protective clothing and releasing chemicals into water bodies were some factors that could cause cancer.
He advised parents to report to health facilities when they notice any abnormalities in their children’s body, saying “For instance when a child experience any severe pain that last for a long time, it gives a hint that it may be because of a cancer condition. Such a child should be sent to the hospital immediately.”
Cancer treatment for children is now free in the country, hence parents should take advantage and enrol their wards onto the scheme to ensure they received the necessary healthcare without facing financial hardship when the need arises, Mr Aggrey reiterated.
Mr Ebenezer Atuahene Anane, Public Relations Officer (PRO), Wassa West NHIS, lauded the Foundation for the initiative, added that, aside the normal registration and renewals, children between the ages of zero to five would be issued instant cards.
He revealed that last year due to inadequate logistics they were unable to meet their target, but with the immense support from the GFGF, they would cover more areas this year and achieve the Universal Health Coverage by 2030.
Maame Abena Manu, a mother of five, who had all her five children enrolled onto the scheme, thanked the management of the Foundation for bringing the programme to Awudua.
GNA