Noguchi Memorial Institute and UG Hospital move to combat breast cancer

As part of measures to help prevent breast cancer from further wreaking havoc in Ghana, the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) has joined forces with the University of Ghana Hospital (Legon Hospital) to screen over 100 students of the University of Ghana for breast cancer.

The 1-day health screening exercise which took place at the night market area of the University of Ghana school campus located at Legon in Accra witnessed health practitioners of the Institute in action busily engaged in screening the girls and women (mainly students) who participated.

The exercise as at 12:00 noon on Friday October 29 2021, saw 37 beneficiaries  successfully screened for breast cancer while others continued to troop the  venue in their numbers to have their turn.

Mad. Stephanie Amegah, a nurse conducting the screening observed some cases have been detected out of the number of people who were screened which ought to be investigated to decide their next line of action.

According to her, those cases that were detected during the exercise would be referred to the Legon Hospital to undergo a lab test and when the results proved positive, doctors would follow-up quickly to effect treatment.

The Head of Department of Clinical Pathology of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Professor Regina Appiah-Opong speaking in an interview on the sidelines of the exercise averred that it has been crucial for her outfit to partner with Legon Hospital to conduct the exercise and also raise awareness as a result of a number rising cases of breast cancer being recorded in the country which put the life of most people at risk especially girls and women.

“Apart from the basic research we are conducting in the lab, we’ve also decided to consider having this breast cancer awareness on the University of Ghana campus free of charge realizing that breast cancer is a major problem that is affecting women all over the world”.

“It is the third of the cancers that are affecting women and it’s also a major cause of death of cancers among women therefore it is important that we look at it”, she further indicated.

While thanking the AngloGold Ghana Ashanti Women for the financial support which helped towards the organizing of a successful exercise, she revealed that the rationale behind the initiative equally emanated from the fact that October is breast cancer awareness month, hence the need to stage the event to raise awareness towards prevention of breast cancer in the country.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide, and is the most common cause of cancer among women in most countries. In low-and-middle-income countries, the incidence has been rising steadily due to increased life expectancy, changing reproductive patterns (such as later age at first childbirth and less breast-feeding), and the adoption of western lifestyles.  Ghana’s story is no different as cases of breast cancer continue to rise among women and girls with the proportionate fatalities which should have been prevented.

Source:Joseph Wemakor|Newsghana24.com