Gender
Men urged to allow women to check breast cancer signs
Mr Emmanuel Turkson Azumah, a breast cancer survivor, has advised that just as women were encouraged to allow men to examine their breasts for signs of cancer, men should also be proactive in allowing women to check theirs.
He called on both men and women to help each other detect breast cancer early.
Speaking in an interview with The Spectator, he emphasised the importance of mutual breast examinations between partners to enable early detection, noting that the practice could benefit both men and women.
“As women are urged to allow men to suck their breast and examine them, women should do same for men as breast cancer can affect both sexes,” he said.
Azumah’s own experience with breast cancer began when he started feeling pains in his right breast, something he initially dismissed, believing the disease only affected women.
He said his wife, however, encouraged him to seek medical attention, and after a series of tests, he was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer.
He revealed that he quickly began chemotherapy, completing it in December 2023, followed by 25 days of radiotherapy.
“Today, I am healthy, thanks to the early intervention initiated by my wife,” he said.
Reflecting on his experience, Azumah stressed how traumatic it was to learn that he, as a man, had breast cancer.
He encouraged women to allow their male partners to help examine them for signs of breast cancer and vice versa.
He believed that the mutual practice could lead to early detection and, consequently, timely treatment.
Azumah urged people to offer emotional and financial support to breast cancer patients, as the cost of treatment can be prohibitive.
Furthermore, he appealed to the government to equip hospitals in the Eastern Region with mammogram machines, which are essential for early detection but currently lacking in the region.
The Clinical Director of the Eastern Regional Hospital, Dr Foster Amponsah, echoed Azumah’s concerns, noting that breast cancer cases were on the rise in the region.
He revealed that the hospital recorded more than five breast cancer-related deaths each month, with many patients seeking treatment at advanced stages of the disease.
This trend, he said, was particularly alarming among young women and emphasized that early detection was crucial.
He urged individuals to regularly check for symptoms and seek medical advice as soon as any abnormalities were detected.
The Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Arko Akoto-Ampaw, also highlighted the severity of the issue, stating that breast cancer has become the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the region.
He stressed the importance of continued public awareness and education on breast cancer, noting that it affected both men and women.
“In an effort to make early detection more accessible, the hospital has reduced the cost of ultrasound scans from GH¢100 to GH¢20, allowing more people, especially those with financial constraints, to afford screening,” he said.
From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman, Koforidua
Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, a Deputy Chief of Staff, has called for sustained legal and institutional reforms to address gender biases within Ghana’s justice system.
She urged women lawyers to build on the legacy of trailblazers who have shaped the country’s legal landscape.
Madam Bampoe Addo made the call at the maiden Biennial Conference of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) Women’s Forum, organised in collaboration with the Ghana School of Law in Accra on Tuesday.
The event was on the theme: “The role of women lawyers in national development: honouring trailblazers.”
Madam Bampoe Addo said the progress made by women in the legal profession was not accidental but the result of years of struggle, sacrifice and determination.
She paid tribute to early trailblazers such as Matilda Foster and Annie Jiagge, saying their achievements broke barriers and opened doors for generations of women lawyers.
She commended the contributions of female judicial leaders, including Mrs Georgina Theodora Wood, Mrs Sophia Akuffo, and Mrs Gertrude Torkornoo, whose leadership reflected the growing influence of women in Ghana’s judiciary.
Women lawyers had made significant contributions across multiple sectors, including the courtroom, academia, policy development, civil society advocacy and community engagement.
Madam Bampoe Addo noted that their efforts had advanced gender equality, strengthened institutions and improved access to justice in the country.
She expressed concern about the persistent gender biases within the justice system, particularly in some judicial pronouncements that could undermine the dignity of women.
The courts, she noted, must not only deliver justice but must also communicate it in a manner that upheld respect and fairness for all parties.
“There is undervaluation of women’s unpaid domestic labour, including caregiving responsibilities, which are often overlooked in legal determinations, especially in matrimonial cases,” she added.
She called for a more progressive and context-sensitive approach to adjudication, drawing on comparative jurisprudence from other jurisdictions to ensure fairness and equity.
Madam Bampoe Addo urged legal practitioners and judges to build on progressive legal precedents and ensure that Ghana’s legal system evolved to reflect contemporary social realities.
She emphasised the importance of mentorship and inclusivity, encouraging women in leadership to create opportunities for others and support the next generation of female lawyers.
She called on young women to pursue legal careers with confidence, adding that the profession offered vast opportunities to contribute to national development.
Commissioner of Police (COP) Lydia Donkor, the Director-General of CID, said women lawyers played indispensable roles in shaping Ghana’s legal and governance systems.
They had excelled in various fields and occupied key leadership positions, contributing to policy reforms and championing justice for vulnerable groups, she added.
COP Donkor paid tribute to trailblazing women lawyers whose achievements continued to inspire and motivate younger generations to strive for excellence.
She urged students and young practitioners to go beyond academic successes and embrace the broader mission of promoting justice, fairness and societal transformation.
She encouraged more women lawyers to consider careers in the Ghana Police Service, describing law enforcement as a critical area where legal expertise was needed to strengthen justice delivery.
She commended the organisers of the conference for the success, saying it would encourage the next generation of women lawyers to continue to make significant contributions to Ghana’s development. – GNA
The Dzidula Pink Foundation has engaged expectant mothers on cervical cancer at a recent pregnancy clinic held at St Gregory Hospital, Budumburam in the Awutu Senya East District.
The engagement formed part of its advocacy on early cancer detection to safeguard maternal health.
It also formed part of the foundation’s broader mission to raise awareness about cancers affecting women, particularly at a time when many may be least likely to consider screening especially pregnancy and the postpartum period.
Addressing a gathering of pregnant women at the clinic, the president of the foundation, Ms Fafa Gozo, highlighted a worrying trend where a significant number of women are diagnosed with cancer around the time of delivery.
This, she noted, often results from delayed screening and limited awareness about the importance of early detection.
She educated the women about the need to prioritise their health by undertaking timely cancer screening, even while navigating the demands of pregnancy.
She reiterated that early detection remains one of the most effective ways to improve treatment outcomes and reduce mortality.
“Pregnancy should not be a reason to delay screening. In fact, it is a critical period where heightened awareness can save lives,” Ms Gozo said.
The engagement also created a platform for open dialogue, allowing the expectant mothers to ask questions, share concerns, and receive guidance from health professionals present at the clinic.
Health experts at the facility echoed the foundation’s message, underscoring that routine checks and screenings, when done early, can lead to timely interventions and better health outcomes for both mother and child.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
