Breast cancer: MBCF sensitization and screening activities reveal scary findings; reports to MOH, GHS

Though considered the second deadliest killer disease among women, breast cancer has been given relegated attention while it ravages on.

Meena Breast Cancer Foundation (MBCF) is however making strides in fighting the disease that took the life of Mrs. Amina Oppong Kwarteng, wife of its Executive Director, Ibrahim Oppong Kwarteng.

Her death led to the birth of the Foundation when she promised to wage war against the disease while on her sick bed.

Two years on, through its advocacy to fight the disease and reduce its related deaths, its activities have revealed scary outcomes that require immediate action.

Over the 20 schools (Senior High, Basic, and a University), 12 Communities, Corporate organizations, and religious bodies visited, more than a thousand individuals have been engaged, of which 196 suspected cases have been recorded.

Affected persons exhibited different signs and symptoms including strange lumps in their breasts, abnormal disparity in sizes of their breasts, and sores on their breasts.

One worrying trend is the increasing cases among young persons, as most cases were recorded in Senior High Schools.

MBCF has so far engaged schools in three Regions; Greater Accra, Eastern, and Central which saw these scary numbers.

 In the Eastern Region, 22 suspected cases were recorded at Adonteng Senior High School and 10 at Welhemina Bishop Memorial Zion Senior High School. At Odupong Senior High School in the Central Region, 17 students were identified with suspected signs of the disease.

“The Foundation has embarked on regular breast cancer outreach programmes in ten (10) communities, Nineteen (19) Secondary and Basic schools, and seven (7) institutions. Over 13,000 women, girls, and boys (aged 14 – 60 years) have benefited directly from MBCF’s awareness, screening, and support for treatment programs. MBCF has supported 27 patients to undergo medical treatment through direct financial support from its donors and organizations,” a portion of a report that highlights key awareness creation and screening activities undertaken by the Meena Breast Cancer Foundation since its establishment in 2022 read.

As stated, MBCF, after identifying affected persons, follows up and supports them to ensure that they seek appropriate medical care.

In implementing its activities to fight the disease, MBCF observed that ignorance, poverty, traditional beliefs, myths, and fear of being diagnosed with breast cancer have led to the apathetic attitude of some women to attend organized breast cancer sensitization and screening events.

The situation calls for increased stakeholder support for breast cancer education and screening programs in communities across the country, the report said

The Foundation suggests an increase in education on breast cancer and regular mammography screening for women to ensure early detection.

It also recommended affordable and accessible healthcare services, counseling, and financial assistance for patients’ research funding to develop better prevention methods, and treatments and ultimately find a cure.

The report findings have been submitted to the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service for immediate actions to defeat the disease.

Rudolph Nandi