October has been designated as breast cancer month by the United Nations (UN).
In Ghana, various activities will be organised to draw attention to the disease, which continues to take a toll on women.
In line with this, former President John Agyekum Kufuor is expected to lead two events in Accra and Kumasi to raise funds for the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of poor women suffering from breast cancer.
The events in Kumasi will be held on Saturday October 10, 2020, followed by another in Accra, on Saturday, October 24, 2020.
Speaking in an interview with the Daily Graphic yesterday, the President of Breast Care International (BCI), organisers of the fundraising, Dr Beatrice Wiafe Addai, said it was refreshing that the former President had agreed to participate in the twin event because of the dangers of the disease.
Strong supporter
Dr Addai, who is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Peace and Love Hospitals, said the former President had been a strong supporter in the fight against the disease and recalled in 2014 when he and his wife, Mrs Theresa Kufuor, participated in the BCI Ghana walk for the cure in Sunyani.
The BCI president said many women suffering from breast cancer were unable to seek medical attention because of financial constraints and added that this year, three of such women had been supported by the BCI to undergo diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation.
COVID-19
Meanwhile, ahead of the fundraising, the BCI had issued a statement cautioning that this year’s Breast Cancer Week could pass without much notice, as COVID-19 continued to inhibit mass public gatherings.
It was in that vein that BCI had devised a strategy to keep the awareness creation campaign alive with the two-tier fund-raising cocktail events.
“We are innovatively keeping with tradition as we refuse to let the ravages of COVID-19 crowd out our voice and blight our annual public awareness creation programmes on breast cancer”, the statement quoted Dr Wiafe as saying
Surge in cases
It said observation during the COVID-19 period indicated that there had been a surge in late reporting of cases to hospitals, “a situation we partly attribute to low-income levels.”
The statement implored multi-nationals, corporate entities and high net worth individuals and philanthropists to generously contribute to save the lives of breast cancer patients, majority of whom were regrettably poor, but have dependents.
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