BREAST CARE INTERNATIONAL (BCI) CALLS FOR JOINT EFFORT TO FIGHT BREAST CANCER IN 2015

Dr. Beatrice Wiafe Addai

Breast Care International (BCI) has asked for a joint effort in the provision and dissemination of quality Breast Health education, screening, counseling, advocacy, research, treatment, and support to intensify breast cancer awareness and improve the quality of life of women who are at risk with Breast Cancer, in the New Year, 2015.

The organization has over the past seven years committed itself to conducting outreach programs for women, especially those in deprived communities of Ghana; educating and screening the public for Breast Cancer which is a killer disease that has a matchless attitude to destroy the lives of Women in the prime.

The President of Breast Care International (BCI) and Chief Executive Officer of Peace and Love Hospitals (PLS), Dr. Mrs. Beatrice Wiafe Addai made the call during an interaction with pressmen in Kumasi where she was giving her end of year and New Year message.

Dr. Wiafe Addai stated that 2014 was a very eventful year which saw Breast Care International and Peace and Love Hospitals hitting a high-pitch performance level. She said the 2014 witnessed a phenomenal increase in the activities of the BCI and PLH which helped in strengthening the breast cancer crusade in the country.

The first ever Ghanaian Female General surgeon recalled that during the year 2014, BCI had a successful organization of the Ghana Walk For The Cure-2014 which pulled an unprecedented crowd of 35,000 people from all corners of Ghana and even beyond, in Sunyani, the capital of the Brong Ahafo Region on the 25th of October. That the event would undoubtedly continue to remain a monumental achievement in the history of Breast Care International and Peace and Love Hospitals, with the attendance of people like the former president of Ghana H.E John Agyekum Koffour and wife Mrs Theresa Kuffour.

The Unique collaboration of BCI and the London-based International Commercial Impex Limited(ICIL), distributors of Forever Easy and Yofi sanitary products, culminating in the organization of Community Breast Health Promoters programme mainly for the wives of pastors of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, also came in for mention as Dr. Addai numerated the programmes executed in 2014.

She added that for the media to be equipped with the basic information needed to intermittently educate their audience, BCI embarked on training for some Media Personnel in basic Oncology. That Oncology nursing and Peer-Nurse training programmes were also organized for nurses in government and private hospitals across the length and breadth of the country, as well as the distribution of donated essential drugs to some selected health care facilities in Ghana, by the kind courtesy of USA based Direct Relief, while strengthening collaborations with companies such as IBCN, Johnson and Johnson, Roche, Phillips, Varian, tiGO, DHL, AWDF, NCI, AORTIC, Despite Group of Companies, Special Ice and the MEDIA.

Dr. Mrs. Beatrice Wiafe Addai expressed appreciation to the Peace and Love Cancer Survivors Association (PALSA), the President of Ghana medical Association, Dr. Kwabena Opoku Adusei, Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu ll and his son, Oheneba Dusei Poku, the Acheampemhene for their consistent and invaluable support of the activities of BCI/PLH.

The AORTIC Council member advised Ghanaians to remember and stay away from the controllable risk factors associated with cancers, such as eating too much of fatty meat, smoking, eating too many can foods and taking alcohol and sugar in large quantities. She advised that Ghanaians should eat the local fruits and vegetables and do lot of exercise to keep them strong, not only from cancer but other non-communicable diseases.

Finally, Dr. Wiafe Addai wished all Ghanaians a Prosperous New Year and pledged Breast Care International and Peace and Love Hospitals' increased commitment towards the fight against cancers in Ghana and the world at large.

By: S. Appau Aheng-Angel fm