Maame Efua Houadjeto encourages women to prioritise their health at GTA’s breast cancer screening
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Maame Efua Houadjeto, has emphasised the importance of women prioritising their health, particularly in the fight against breast cancer.
She made this call at a free breast cancer screening exercise organised by the GTA at its head office in Accra on Tuesday, October 21.
According to Maame Efua Houadjeto, early detection is key in managing breast cancer. “Keep checking, because the earlier it's noticed, the better it is for you. When it's noticed early, it can be managed. But when it gets to stage 3 or 4, it becomes very dangerous.
“So those of us who have it and can be managed, let’s not wait till it gets to stage three, stage four before taking action,” she said.
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women globally, accounting for 1 in 6 female deaths. Each year, it accounts for around 25% of all cancers diagnosed in women.
Every October, the global Pink October campaign aims to increase awareness around breast cancer prevention.
Key risks include advancing age, obesity, limited physical activity, alcohol consumption and specific post-menopausal hormonal treatments. While only 5–10% of breast cancers are hereditary, family history of breast cancer should prompt women to take proactive steps to reduce their likelihood of developing the disease.
Madam Houadjeto said women shouldn’t play with their health since they are economic centres of the home.
“Women are the economic centres of our homes. We are not just financial contributors, we make it happen so we need you as mothers, we need you as sisters. We cannot afford cancer to take you from us and we will not allow that.
“The only way we can help is to do something like this by providing the platform to do free screening. When you go to the hospitals, you have to pay something but it is free here,” she stated.
Earlier before the CEO’s presentation, Madam Comfort Owusu, a cancer survivor, educated patrons about breast cancer awareness.
The survivor, a former staff of GTA and presently a patron of the ladies club of GTA, also shared her inspiring story of survival.
She encouraged patrons not to entertain fear but build courage and resilience when they find themselves in the unfortunate incident.
Her touching story pushed Madam Houadjeto to pledge to financially support her advocacy works by paying the cost of any breast cancer patient she recommends.
Madam Houadjeto also disclosed that the Authority had previously planned to donate to Korlebu Teaching hospital but rescinded the decision to support Comfort Owusu’s advocacy.
Apart from the breast cancer screening, patrons also went through blood pressure checks, eye screening, and other general medical services including a presentation by a doctor.
