Dr. Beatrice Wiafe Addai calls for sustained education, economic empowerment to address breast cancer surge

President of Breast Care International (BCI), Dr. Beatrice Wiafe Addai, has called for sustained countrywide education and economic empowerment in addressing the surge in cancer cases in Ghana.

She stated that cancer delivery in Ghana is mired in superstition and bogged down by mounting financial challenges, a situation she described as worrying.

Dr Beatrice Wiafe Addai said reports at the hospitals indicate that some patients come with end-stage conditions of cancer following prolonged days at quack health facilities.

She noted that this was a result of a failed promise of curing cancer diseases through exorcisms by these quack health practitioners, mostly traditional medicine practitioners.

Dr Beatrice Wiafe Addai believed that “if a sustained vigorous education on cancers is embarked on countrywide, the people will be enlightened about the disease and change the belief that the disease has spiritual elements.

Dr Wiafe Addai, also the CEO of Peace and Love Hospitals, made the call at Beposo, in the Bosomtwe district of the Ashanti region, on World Cancer Day 2025.

World Cancer Day is a global initiative on February 4th every year.

World Cancer Day aims to improve awareness and knowledge of cancer so that it can be better detected and treated.

The day organized by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) was on the theme "United By Unique".

Held on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, the event brought together students, religious leaders, and people from the community and nearby.

"The two key elements underpinning BCI's decade-long anti-cancer campaign on breast cancer are lack of sustained countrywide education and economic empowerment," Dr Wiafe Addai emphasized.

In her suggestion to help increase cancer education in Ghana, she called for the evolvement of people-centered programs and policies to ameliorate the plight of cancer patients.

"A people's centered approach leads to improved patients’ well-being, higher quality care, and increased trust in healthcare providers," he stated.

In addition, Dr Wiafe Addai said "People-centered care includes initiatives such as community health programs tailored to local health issues and cultural competence training for healthcare providers, among others".

Dr Beatrice Wiafe Addai advised women not to treat cancer-related diseases spiritually but rather seek early medical attention because the disease is not caused by any supernatural activity.

"The cancer disease is curable, preventable, and treatable. At least visit your hospitals for a thorough medical checkup once a year to prevent escalation of a disease," she added.