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125 suspected breast cancer cases detected during screening
In their effort to combat breast cancer, some health professionals want the government to provide a more comprehensive National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) package for the treatment of breast cancer in the country.
According to them, part of the treatment for the disease is covered by the NHIS but many patients are still unable to access additional services such as mammogram and ultra-sound screening which are quite expensive.
![Mr Martin Adu-Owusu [Thirtd left] MD. NTC with Ms Dakoa Newman and other stakeholder.](https://spectator.com.gh/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Mr-Martin-Adu-Owusu-Thirtd-left-MD.-NTC-with-Ms-Dakoa-Newman-and-other-stakeholder..jpg)
These were some of the remarks made when The Spectator Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign for the month of October was launched on October 6, 2022, at the Kaneshie Market Complex in Accra, where the traders were screened and sensitised to the disease.
Key among the messages was the need to seek early treatment for the disease which is preventable and curable. Instead of patients seeking unconventional treatment, health professionals insist that a medical facility should be the first port of call for any suspected case of breast cancer.
Medical Officers at the Kaneshie Medical Centre where some women were screened free of charge, admitted that but for the exercise, a number of breast cancer cases and other health-related issues would have gone unnoticed.
According to Dr. Obed Boamah about half of the 250 women who were screened had suspected cases of breast cancer.
He said the screening afforded the opportunity to determine those who needed urgent attention as some of the cases had been referred to the major hospitals while other patients had also been asked to return later to the Medical Centre for further examination based on their assessment.
Health professionals and the participants expressed satisfaction about the positive impact of the campaign but indicated that there was still more to be done to reduce of breast cancer in the country.
Some of them recommended a year-long campaign across all platforms and the use of varied communication strategies: use of local languages that would appeal to members of the public of diverse backgrounds.
Participants and partners have commended the New Times Corporation (NTC) for the initiative which is intended to yield positive results and help reduce the number of lives lost as result of the disease.
The Spectator Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign led by the NTC is in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO), Kaneshie Medical Centre, Kaneshie Market Complex, Cheezzy Pizza, Labone Senior High School, Unichem Group Ghana, Kaneshie Polyclinic.
One of the key partners, the Kaneshie Medical Centre provided facilities and logistics for the breast cancer screening. In addition, the medical centre also conducted cervical cancer tests, blood pressure and sugar test.
The awareness campaign themed: “Life Before and after Breast Cancer: A Future of Positivity and Hope” is being organised by the Marketing Department of NTC.
By Portia-Hutton Mills
The Member of Parliament for Ofoase Ayirebi, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has disbursed GHS134,000 to 22 students under the latest round of his Scholarship and Bursaries Programme.
According to a statement from his office, the 22 beneficiaries are enrolled in 16 tertiary institutions across the country.
They are studying various courses, including medicine, marketing, law, public health, midwifery, business administration, education, and secretaryship.
The MP’s office commended the beneficiaries, especially the five students currently studying medicine and physician assistantship, encouraging them to remain committed to their studies.
The statement indicated that the scholarship initiative, which began in 2017, aims to support brilliant but needy students from the Ofoase Ayirebi Constituency to further their education. So far, about 700 students have benefited from the program.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Four tricycle operators, popularly known as ‘Pragya’, have been prosecuted and fined GH¢600 each equivalent to 50 penalty units by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) Sanitation Court for obstructing public roads at the Agbogbloshie Market.
The offenders, who were arrested by Public Health Officers of the AMA during a routine enforcement exercise, pleaded guilty to the offence and were subsequently convicted by the court.
The four operators were among the 21 offenders recently arrested at the Agbogbloshie Market for various sanitation and public order violations, including selling on open drains, obstructing walkways, and trading at unauthorised locations.
Speaking after the court proceedings, the Head of Public Health at the AMA, Madam Florence Kuukyi, said the court was lenient with the offenders since it was their first appearance, hence the fine, and warned that subsequent offenders would face stiffer penalties, including imprisonment.
