GNAT Cancer Foundation to raise $10 million to fight disease

The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) Cancer Foundation has launched a fundraising campaign to raise $10 million to help fight the disease in the country.

The money would be used for preventive education, treatment and management of cancer cases among the over 260,000 members of the association and others.

Launching the Cancer Fight Sustainability Fundraising Campaign in Accra last Friday, the Board Chairman of the GNAT Cancer Foundation, Thomas Asante Armstrong, said cancer had become a growing concern among educators.

He said it had not only affected their lives but their families and ultimately the educational system.

"Hence, our focus as a foundation is pivoted on sustainable fight against the dreaded disease with emphasis on fundraising and preventive education, early detection, treatment and management of cancer cases among our members," he said.

Cost

The average cost of treating one cancer patient, Mr Armstrong said, ranged from GH¢45,000 to GH¢250,000, adding that the most well paid teacher could not afford world class cancer treatment and management, hence, the foundation's invitation to companies, public officials, traditional leaders, entrepreneurs, diplomats and the

Media to solicit support to save teachers and the education system. "Let us unite in the fight against cancer. Let us show our solidarity with our affected colleagues and their families.

“Together, we can reach our goal of raising $10 million and make a lasting impact. Together we can create a cancer-free future for ourselves, our families and our communities," he said.

Commitment to welfare

The President of GNAT, Rev. Isaac Owusu, said the initiative was a testament to the association's commitment to the well-being and safety of members.

He said cancer had become a concern with the ranks of the association, affecting not only members but their families.

He said with the steady rise in cancer cases among its members, the association established the GNAT Cancer Foundation as a subsidiary to ensure a sustainable fight against cancer among members, in Ghana and the West Africa sub-region as a whole.

"It is worth noting that as an expression of GNAT’s commitment to ensuring our members are given a global standard of cancer treatment and management, the association has acquired the Sweden Medical Centre as its cancer facility to take care of members, their families and retirees from 2022," he said.

With such investment, he expressed the hope that the needed support would be secured.

As an association, he said GNAT had a health fund that took care of its members, their spouses and children below 18 years. Rev. Owusu said recently the association added its retirees as beneficiaries, knowing their financial situation.

Solidarity

The General Manager of the Sweden Medical Centre, Edward Banson, said cancer care around the world had become very challenging with the key among them being early diagnosis, treatment destination for patients and funding for patient treatment.

“Cancer diagnosis in Ghana is assuming a positive trend. This can be attributed to awareness and activities being sponsored by corporate organisations, associations, religious groupings and society at large,” he said.