Thousands walk to create breast cancer awareness 

Thousands of people including government officials, traditional leaders, medical practitioners, civil society organisations, celebrities, market women, residents of Ejisu, both young and old, breast cancer survivors and students of some selected senior high schools in the Ashanti Region, last Saturday, thronged the major street of Ejisu to create awareness on the devastating effects of breast cancer and other non-communicable diseases.

In attendance were the Queen mother of Ejisu, Nana Yaa Asantewaa II; the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah; the Municipal Chief Executive of Ejisu, Samuel Oduro Frimpong, and the Founder of Breast Care International (BCI), Dr Beatrice Wiafe-Addai.

Some international partners present were the Founding Director of Global Health Catalyst, Harvard University, Professor Wil Ngwa; Professor Stephen Avery of the University of Pennsylvania and Professor Saiful Huq, University of Pittsburgh, all in the United States of America (USA).

Also present were Dr Lawrencia Bawuah Dsane from the University Medical Centre, The Netherlands, and Bishop Dr Evans Glover, the Chairperson for BCI America.

Gospel music group, Daughters of Glorious Jesus, and veteran songstress,  Akosua Agyapong, were among some celebrities who joined the walk.

Cancer Month 

Dubbed "BCI Ghana Walk for the Cure 2024", widely regarded as Ghana's largest breast cancer awareness campaign, it was held under the theme: "Together We Can Change the Narrative About Cancers in Africa"

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is marked in countries across the world and helps to increase attention and support for awareness, early diagnosis and treatment, as well as palliative care for women suffering from the disease.

Walk/durbar

As at 7 am on Saturday, participants had converged on the premises of the Ejisu Senior High School to begin the two-hour walk, amidst the playing of songs from a mobile sound system, coupled with traditional songs popularly known as jama by the large youth-dominated crowd.

Some carried placards which read "Timely and Regular Medical Care Saves Lives", " Women Should Not Die of Breast Cancer", "Not All Lumps Are Cancerous" and "Breast Cancer Survivors Need Everyone's Support".

The walk, which is the 12th edition, ended peacefully at the Okese Park at Ejisu, where a durbar was held to address the participants.

Amidst cultural displays, poetry recitals and drama, some selected students educated the participants and helped dispel the misconceptions and myths surrounding breast cancer and the need for early detection to help save lives.

Solidarity messages

Nana Yaa Asantewaa, who couldn't believe the 'massive turnout' for the event, said, "Indeed, this is Ghana's largest breast cancer awareness campaign I have ever lived to see" while commending BCI and its international partners for making the walk that impactful.

She called for breast cancer to be treated as a national issue, just like how the country confronted the COVID-19 pandemic, rather than leaving the fight to a few devoted organisations such as BCI.

That notwithstanding, she advised women, most especially teenagers, to adopt self-breast examination to avoid having cancer.

According to Nana Yaa Asantewaa II, regular self-examination of the breast, as well as early reporting of any changes in one’s breast would lead to early diagnosis and treatment.

Dr Wiafe-Addai, in an address, expressed concern over the increasing number of breast cancer-related deaths in the country and called for swift interventions.

"Before 2020, the country recorded 1,800 deaths out of 4,000 cases annually. However, since 2020, the figure has risen to 2,396 deaths out of 5,000 cases,” she said.