By Samira Larbie
Accra, Jan. 31, GNA – The African Cancer Organisation (ACO) has announced plans to expand cervical cancer prevention activities nationwide following the successful completion of the Eikwe Cervical Cancer Prevention Project in the Western Region.
The six‑month project, implemented from July to December 2025, combined community outreach, education and screening services to improve early detection and empower women in Eikwe and surrounding communities to take charge of their health.
A statement issued and copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) to commemorate Cervical Cancer Awareness Month said the initiative, delivered through partnerships with local health workers and community leaders, significantly increased awareness and strengthened access to screening services.
Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, observed annually in January, is aimed at educating people about cervical cancer, its prevention and the importance of regular screenings.
Globally, cervical cancer is the commonest female cancer, with almost 70 per cent of cases occurring in developing countries.
It is estimated that 570,000 new cases are diagnosed and about 311,000 women die from the disease each year.
“Cervical cancer remains one of the most preventable yet deadly cancers affecting women in Ghana.”
“The success of the Eikwe project demonstrates what is possible when communities are engaged, health workers are supported, and women are given access to lifesaving information and screening,” the statement said.
It said that building on the gains made in Eikwe, ACO was positioning “The Woman Campaign” as the national platform to replicate and expand the model across the country.
The campaign would adapt the Eikwe approach to different local contexts while maintaining its core pillars of capacity development, education, screening access, community mobilisation and long‑term prevention.
According to ACO, the nationwide expansion seeks to close gaps in cervical cancer prevention, particularly in underserved and hard‑to‑reach communities where access to screening and information remains limited.
“The Woman Campaign will take the lessons learned from Eikwe and scale them to reach women across Ghana. Our goal is simple: ensure that every woman, regardless of where she lives, has the opportunity to prevent cervical cancer,” it said.
The Organisation called on government agencies, health institutions, civil society organisations and development partners to support efforts to expand cervical cancer prevention services nationwide.
It noted that coordinated and sustained action was critical to reducing cervical cancer‑related deaths and safeguarding the health and wellbeing of women and families in Ghana.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey