Veep Urges Increased Cancer Awareness

Vice President John Dramani Mahama has called for increased cancer awareness drive among Ghanaians to ensure early detection and treatment of the ailment.

He said his father died from prostrate cancer and indicated that increased education on cancer, particularly breast and prostrate cancer, would enable people afflicted by this disease to seek appropriate treatment.

The Vice President was speaking at the end of a special fund-raising Polo event at the Accra Polo Club on Saturday in support of prostrate cancer awareness.

Based on his father's experience, the Vice President described cancer as a terrible disease which must be avoided and urged Ghanaians to constantly undergo medical check-ups to know their health status.

The fund-raising event was organised by the Joyce Tamakloe Memorial Cancer Foundation, which was established in memory of Joyce Tamakloe, the Vice President's step mother who died of breast cancer

Vice President Mahama donated GH¢1,000 in support of the foundation.

 Proceeds from the fund-raising, would enable the foundation to enhance its activities in supporting health centres with the provision of mammograms for the screening of women for the disease as well as finance the treatment of poor cancer patients.

Prostrate cancer is currently the most commonly diagnosed cancer and ranks the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men.

It is a type of cancer that affects the prostrate, a small gland located underneath the bladder in men, and destroys other organs as it gradually spreads through the body.

Ms. Joyce Aryee, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, who chaired the event, commended the foundation for the good work which has promoted the health of many women.

She encouraged people to take cancer seriously and seek early treatment since that was the only way to manage the disease.

The special polo game between UBI Petroleum and XEX Limited, a financial institution was won by the latter on the score of 4:2.