No woman should die of breast cancer —Dr Wiafe Addae

“No woman should die from breast cancer because she is poor,” was the resounding message that echoed through the streets of Kumasi last weekend, as thousands of Ghanaians joined Breast Care International (BCI) and its partners in what became the country’s largest breast cancer awareness walk to date.

From the Post Office at Adum to the revered grounds of Manhyia Palace, the city was painted pink and white, the colours for the breast cancer awareness — as participants marched under the theme: ‘A Cure Worth Fighting For.’

At the heart of the campaign was Dr Mrs. Beatrice Wiafe-Addai, Founder and President of BCI, whose voice carried a message both sobering and empowering. She stated that, “Breast cancer can be conquered. But we must fight together. We must bring our arsenals — education, compassion, science, and solidarity — to save lives, especially those young women who die needlessly and prematurely.”

She stressed that breast cancer was curable if detected early and treated promptly, urging women to visit hospitals for check-ups and avoid relying on traditional herbs and self-treatment.

For over 23 years, BCI has been a beacon of advocacy, education, and care — not just in Ghana, but across Africa and globally. This year’s walk marked a significant rebranding of the organisation, which signaled a renewed commitment to women’s health and a louder voice against the myths and stigma that still surround breast cancer.

Dr Wiafe-Addai was particularly vocal about the dangers of misinformation — including the persistent belief that breast cancer was caused by witchcraft. She urged women to seek medical care rather than rely on traditional herbs or self-treatment.

Again, she called on men to stand by their wives during diagnosis and treatment and not abandon them. “This is when love must speak loudest; we must support each other. No woman should feel alone in this fight,” she noted.

According to her, the statistics are stark as over 2,300 women in Ghana die from breast cancer every year, a figure that surpasses the country’s COVID-19 deaths over a two-year period, but “early detection and prompt treatment save lives,” she emphasised.

As the walk ended at Manhyia Palace, the crowd stood united — survivors, families, health workers, students, and leaders — all carrying the same hope: that poverty, silence, and stigma will no longer be death sentences.

Dr Wiafe-Addai pointed out that BCI’s renewed identity, saying that, “is not just a change in logo or name. It’s a rallying cry.”

From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi

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