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Breast cancer claimed 570,000 lives worldwide in 2015
• Some staff of Madina Polyclinic Kekele pose with officials after the programme
Drawing inspiration from the adage “a healthy mind in a healthy body”, Ghanaians have been advised to take breast screening seriously because that is the best way to stay healthy and promote long life.
They are to consider changes in their bodies as threat to good health, therefore, and do regular checks at the hospital.
The La Nkwantanang Medina Municipal Health Director, Dr Mrs Priscilla Anima Opoku who addressed a breast cancer awareness seminar at the Madina Polyclinic Kekele in Accra, asked the citizenry to take breast cancer screening seriously since the disease had claimed many lives.
“Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women worldwide, accounting for approximately 570,000 deaths in 2015. Over 1.5 million women (25% of all women with cancer) are diagnosed with breast cancer every year throughout the year,” she said.
She asked people to visit the hospital whenever they identified the following symptoms in their breasts; lump, differences in the shape, sizes and colour.
Dr Anima Opoku advised men not to be excluded from the screening but embrace the campaign and encourage their wives to do likewise since that was the only way they could be saved.
A Senior Medical Officer at the Madina Polyclinic Kekele, DrOforiYeboah said the three pillars of the disease were health promotion for early detection, timely diagnosis, and comprehensive breast cancer management.
She emphasised that the disease was curable when detected early so people should report at the hospital promptly for the necessary attention.
The Madina Polyclinic Kekele Administrator, Mr Peter Gagah, called on patients to report at the hospital whenever they identified any change in their bodies, and warned patients to desist from going to churches for prayers instead of going to the hospital.
Madam YaTutuwa and AgatharAsare of the Department of Wellness Clinic who took turns to educate the public said visual breast examination could be done either in the virtical or horizontal way, and that it should be carried out with the aid of a mirror, the correct position one ought to adopt, the correct posture of the body and head among others.
Ms Comfort OdeiAkua of Beautiful Beneath, briefed participants on the best bra sizes they must wear, the type of bra suitable for nursing mothers and the type specifically made for patients who have had their breasts cut.
Breast Cancer and Cervical Cancer Ambassador,Mr Blaise Ackon, a staff of the polyclinic said 4,650 yearly diagnoses of the disease was worrying because many of the patients could not survive.
He, therefore, advised participants not to restrict breast cancer screening to the month of October but throughout the year.
By Raymond Kyekye
Madam Sandra Seyram Kpedor, the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Anloga in the Volta Region, has emphasised the importance of parental involvement in children’s education, stating that education is free, but parents need to do more to support their children.
She said parents, teachers, and students must be involved in addressing the challenges facing the district’s education sector, particularly the poor Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results.
Madam Kpedor outlined some key roles parents should play to promote their children’s education, including providing a conducive learning environment, monitoring their children’s progress, and supporting teachers.
The DCE highlighted some challenges the district faced such as inadequate infrastructure and a shortage of teachers, which have also contributed to the poor BECE results and called on well-to-do parent to help solve the situation through and other supports.
To address the issues, she also announced that plans have been taken to utilise the district’s common fund to implement educational projects, such as constructing school blocks and teachers’ bungalows at Sodzi community, and 2-unit classroom blocks each at Akplorwutorkor and Tegbi-Afedome respectively, among others.
Madam Kpedor also noted that her office had earlier notified the Ministry of Education to deploy more teachers to the area to improve teaching and learning, and encouraged students to work hard and strive for excellence, and work beyond their limit to succeed.
“To my wonderful and beautiful girls, you have to know it clear that women and girls have equal opportunities to compete with men for greater achievements,” she indicated.
The DCE cited her own achievement as a testament to the fact that women can excel in leadership positions, alongside Vice President Nana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, and stressed that girls were no longer limited to domestic roles but can pursue their dreams and become leaders.
Additionally, she mentioned that a meeting was held earlier with assembly members, and other stakeholders to address the district’s educational challenges and improve academic performance.
She promised that the district’s education oversight committee and stakeholders would work together to address the challenges and improve the district’s BECE results and called for parental involvement and support to boost the district’s education sector for children to chase their dreams to become future leaders for the success of the district and the nation.
She urged parents not to leave everything to the government but rather help in the provision of some necessary materials such as textbooks, exercise books, pens, pencils, food, and guidance to children for the successes of young learners. –GNA
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The spokesperson for Dr. Bawumia, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, has criticised the implementation of the NDC government’s No Fee Stress policy, arguing that the programme has failed to deliver on its core promise.
According to him on Starr fm, the policy, which was introduced to ensure stress free payment of fees for level 100 tertiary students, has rather turned into what he described as post stress support.
He explained that students are required to pay their fees first before applying for reimbursement, a situation he believes defeats the purpose of the policy.
He questioned claims by government officials that the policy has been successful and that citizens are happy.
In his view, such claims do not reflect the lived realities of many Ghanaians. He stressed that while some people may appear satisfied, many others continue to struggle.
Dennis Miracles Aboagye pointed to the situation of trained teachers and nurses who have been picketing for nearly six months, demanding employment.
He noted that government responses suggesting it cannot accommodate all of them contradict claims of economic stability.
He further argued that economic indicators such as a stable currency mean little to people who are unable to secure jobs or access promised support.
He observed that telling an unemployed teacher or a struggling student that the cedi has strengthened does not address their immediate challenges.
On the issue of tertiary education, he maintained that no level 100 student benefited from stress free fees in 2025, despite the policy being announced.
He added that in 2026, students have already reported to school without receiving the promised support.
He insisted that asking students to pay fees first and seek reimbursement later amounts to support after hardship, not stress free education.
According to him, this approach goes against what was promised during the policy announcement.
Dennis Miracles Aboagye questioned why a government that presents the economy as strong is unable to fulfil what he described as simple and clear promises.
He added that there is a fundamental problem with the way the economy is being managed and indicated that he is prepared to explain his position further.
By: Jacob Aggrey
