By Charles Tawiah
Kumasi, Oct. 09, GNA – Afari Community Hospital, a private health facility near Nkawie in the Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipality, has initiated a month-long free breast cancer screening for women in the area and adjoining communities.
The gesture is part of the corporate social responsibility efforts of the facility, to educate and create awareness of the diseases among the people in the area.
Dr Frimpong Boateng, Senior Surgeon at the hospital, told the Ghana News Agency that breast cancer had become more than a public health burden and there was the need for all to get involve to create the needed awareness on the disease to help reduce its incidence.
He described breast cancer as the next most deadly disease after lung cancer, and said periodic screening, examination, and counselling before symptoms were observed, were very important.
Dr Boateng mentioned some of the symptoms of the disease as breast pain, lump in the breast and armpit, nipple discharge, abnormal skin rashes and urged people experiencing some of these conditions to visit health facilities to help avoid complications.
He said inheritance, early menstruation, and late menopause are some of the risk factors that needed early attention.
Dr Boateng called on the public to take advantage of the screening exercise to examine themselves and know their status.
GNA