The First Lady, Mrs Lordina Mahama, has appealed to women to seek early treatment when they detect change in their breasts to avoid complication and possible death.
She said breast and cervical cancers were curable if reported and treated early and advised against resorting to unorthodox treatment and going to prayer camps.
Mrs Mahama said this in a speech read on her behalf by Madam Sherry Ayittey, Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, at the launch of ?Save a breast in Ghana awareness campaign?, initiated by the western Region Queen Mothers? Association in Takoradi.
The event was also used to raise funds in aid of a Mobile Digital Mammography Unit and to establish a Breast and cervical cancer treatment fund by the queen mothers.
The First Lady said breast cancer was the commonest cancer among women in Ghana and formed 40 per cent of female cancers.
Ghana, she said, had put interventions in the Korle-bu and Komfo Anokye Teaching hospitals to treat the disease.
She therefore urged women to do away with fears and stigmatization and seek early treatment at the right source as early detection and treatment is key to survival.
Mrs Mahama commended the Association for the initiative to help reduce the incidence of breast cancer morbidity and mortality by improving access to screening for women in medically-underserved communities.
She said the harrowing statistics of breast cancer prevalence, morbidity and mortality globally and in Ghana was a wake-up call for all, including government, politicians, civil society, corporate bodies and international agencies to adopt proactive approach and commitment to solve.
The First Lady said she was not happy about the low level of awareness among the public, late reporting for treatment, negative socio-cultural beliefs about the disease and inadequate funds to implement and support the activities.
Madam Mahama donated GHC10,000 towards the project.
Nana Abena Kunadjoa, President of the Association, said the plight of breast cancer patients touched the heart of the members to initiate the project.
Nana Abena Kunadjoa, who is the queen mother of c said the mobile digital mammography facility would be used to operate largely in the deprived areas of the region to support the rural poor to seek early detection.
Mrs Edith Annan, representative of the World Health Organization pledged the support of the WHO in reducing the incidence of breast cancer.
She said the organization would distribute pamphlets on the disease to create the awareness.
GNA
GNA
