By Michael Foli Jackidy, GNA
Kpetoe (V/R), Oct. 29, GNA – The Agortime-Ziope District Health Directorate, in partnership with World Vision, Compassion Ghana, the National Health Insurance Scheme, security services, teachers, the District Assembly and other stakeholders, has organised a breast cancer awareness walk to educate residents on the importance of early detection and regular screening.
The campaign walk, held in Agortime Kpetoe through the principal street on Thursday, to climax Breast Cancer Awareness Month, brought together representatives of various institutions, security services, students, health professionals and community members to raise awareness of the disease and encourage preventive healthcare practices.
Mr Emmanuel Ayamga Awine, the Agortime-Ziope District Director of Health Services, said the activity formed part of efforts to educate the public on breast cancer and promote early detection to improve treatment outcomes.
He said breast cancer remained a major public health concern, particularly among women, and stressed that early detection was essential for effective treatment and improved chances of survival.
Mr Awine explained that the Directorate had brought together key stakeholders to undertake the walk through the town to sensitise residents and encourage them to seek screening services.
He said the campaign also complemented the objectives of the Free Primary Healthcare initiative, which emphasised health promotion, disease prevention, and early intervention.
“As a district that is implementing free primary healthcare, we thought it was very important to undertake this preventive activity and use the opportunity to educate everybody so that each person can tell somebody else that breast cancer is real and that early detection is critical,” he said.
Mr Awine said the Directorate had established screening points at selected locations to enable residents to access breast cancer screening and education beyond the awareness walk.
He said screening had commenced at a designated point at the Ghana Immigration Service facility because of its central location, allowing officers, teachers and residents in the surrounding communities to benefit from the exercise.
He added that the district health facility would also continue screening services for participants and other members of the public, with the activities scheduled to run until Saturday.
The District Director encouraged residents to take advantage of the opportunity and make breast health screening a priority.
Ms Shine Gavey, the District Health Promotion Officer, described the campaign as successful, noting that various institutions, government departments, senior high school students and community members participated in the exercise.
She said the walk provided an opportunity for participants to exercise while promoting awareness of breast cancer prevention and early detection.
Ms Gavey encouraged women to examine their breasts regularly, preferably after their monthly menstrual periods, and to seek medical attention whenever they noticed unusual changes.
She explained that breast self-examination could help individuals become familiar with the normal appearance and feel of their breasts, making it easier to recognise changes that required medical assessment.
She urged residents to watch out for warning signs, including lumps in the breast or armpit, changes in breast shape or appearance, inward-turning nipples and unusual skin changes.
Ms Gavey said such signs did not necessarily mean a person had cancer but required prompt assessment by a qualified health professional.
She advised the public not to limit screening to October, which is observed as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but to seek appropriate screening and medical advice throughout the year.
She explained that clinical examinations and diagnostic procedures, including mammography, could help health professionals assess breast abnormalities and determine the appropriate course of action.
Ms Gavey also reminded the public that breast cancer could affect men, although it was significantly more common among women, and urged both sexes to remain alert to unusual breast changes.
She said the Directorate had scheduled additional screening activities at the District Assembly, the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) Customs Division and other institutions to extend the services to more people.
She called on residents to visit nearby health facilities for screening and accurate information on breast cancer prevention, warning signs and treatment.
The Agortime-Ziope District Health Directorate said it would continue to work with its partners and community stakeholders to strengthen health education and promote early detection of breast cancer across the district.
GNA
Edited By: Maxwell Awumah/Kenneth Odeng Adade