By Victoria Agyemang
Cape Coast, Oct. 01, GNA – Health authorities in the Cape Coast Metropolis have called for increased awareness for early detection of childhood cancers to improve treatment outcomes and save the lives of affected children.
The call was made during a childhood cancer awareness campaign which included a health walk through the streets of Cape Coast, from the Mfantsipim school junction through to the Cape Coast Metropolitan Hospital.
The campaign, held on every last day of September, sought to sensitise parents, caregivers and the public on the signs of childhood cancer and encourage them to seek medical attention promptly when unusual symptoms were observed.
The awareness campaign was a collaboration between the Cape Coast Metro Hospital and Little Angels Trust.
Dr Samuel Kwabena Ofosu, the Cape Coast Metropolitan Director of Health Services, said although cancer was often associated with adults, health facilities were increasingly identifying cancers among very young children, including infants as young as three and six months old.
He said the campaign was therefore intended to equip parents and caregivers with the knowledge to recognise possible warning signs and seek medical care early.
“Sometimes children, as young as three to six months, are diagnosed with some cancers,” he said, adding that early detection could lead to better treatment outcomes.
Dr Ofosu said unusual growths and spots on a child’s skin, among other signs, should prompt parents and caregivers to seek medical attention rather than assuming that they were ordinary childhood illnesses.
He said the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital served as a referral centre for patients from various districts and regions, making available statistics not necessarily reflective of cases originating solely from the Cape Coast Metropolis.
He disclosed that about 76 cases of childhood cancers were recorded at the facility in the previous year, with some patients undergoing treatment while others were being monitored.
Dr Vincent Kudo, Medical Superintendent of Cape Coast Metro Hospital said childhood cancer was a common occurrence often observed at teaching hospitals as referral centres.
He said cancer could affect people of all ages, including newborns, contrary to the perception that it was predominantly a disease of the elderly.
Dr Kudo explained that while the causes of some cancers were known, the underlying factors of many cancers remained difficult to establish, making early detection and treatment particularly important.
He said the stage at which a cancer was detected determined the treatment approach, adding that cancers detected early had a greater possibility of being cured because they had not yet spread.
The health authorities urged the public to support efforts to fight childhood cancers by paying attention to unusual changes in children’s health and seeking professional medical assessment.
Dr Ofosu also encouraged eligible girls between nine and 14 years to take advantage of the ongoing Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme, noting that some cancers, including cervical cancer, could be prevented through vaccination.
He further urged women and girls to participate in breast cancer awareness activities during October and make use of health facilities for breast examinations.
The campaign also highlighted the importance of collective action in protecting children and ensuring that every suspected case received timely medical attention.
GNA
Edited by Alice Tettey /Kenneth Odeng Adade