Breast cancer, hepatitis centres for Accra, Kumasi
Two centres of excellence for breast cancer and hepatitis care are to be established at the Korle Bu and Komfo Anokye Teaching hospitals.
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The centres are to improve the outcomes for patients with breast cancer and viral hepatitis, which is liver inflammation due to a viral infection.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed in Accra to that effect between the Ministry of Health (MoH) and Roche, a global pharmaceuticals and diagnostic company.
Activities
The agreement, which is to be implemented by the Ghana Health Service (GHS), would also involve activities such as breast screening and cancer awareness, improvement of diagnostic facilities at treatment centres, training of specialists and the development of national cancer registries to help establish the disease pattern in the country.
It will also help in the establishment of guidelines and access to treatment for breast cancer under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
With regard to hepatitis, the agreement will ensure that there is disease awareness creation programmes, screening, training of healthcare providers in diagnostics, improving availability of diagnostics in the public sector, access to innovative treatments as well as the development of national treatment guidelines.
Benefits
The Minister of Health, Mr Alex Segbefia, who signed on behalf of the Government of Ghana, said the facilities would help address the numerous obstacles that patients encountered in accessing health care.
He said due to stigmatisation and some cultural practices, some people, especially those with breast cancer, were unable to report at health facilities for fear of stigmatisation.
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Mr Segbefia was hopeful that with the establishment of Community-Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds, breast cancer in women would be detected early for prompt treatment.
He said the ministry, together with stakeholders, was also looking at how the NHIS could absorb part of the cost for the treatment of breast cancer and hepatitis.
Technology
The sub-Saharan Africa General Manager of Roche, Mr Markus Gemuend, who signed on behalf of his company, said the agreement would see Roche bringing into the country modern technologies for the diagnosis of breast cancer.
He said it would also lead to technology transfer as specialised technicians and doctors from Roche would be working hand in hand with their counterparts at Korle Bu or the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.
Mr Gemuend said similar MoUs had been signed in countries such as Ivory Coast, Gabon, Kenya, Angola and Ethiopia.
He added that Roche would work with its local partners, to make some of its specialised drugs available for the treatment of the two conditions at subsidised rates.
Breast cancer
In Ghana, breast cancer is said to be the second leading cause of death among women.
A total of 2,900 cases are recorded annually and statistics show that one in eight women die from the disease due to numerous factors which include late detection and fear of stigmatisation.
Hepatitis
Viral hepatitis, on the other hand, is a major global health issue with the highest rates found in sub-Saharan Africa.
Approximately, four million people are said to have the disease in Ghana with the Upper West Region being the most affected.
Writer's email-rebecca.quaicoe-duho@graphic.com.gh