The queenmother of the Duong Traditional Area in the Nadowli-Kaleo District, Pognaa Rosemary Bangzie Mumwilma, has described breast cancer as alarming, and a “destructive menace” that required urgent attention in the country.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Wa at the weekend, Pognaa Mumwilma said breast cancer also destroyed the impact on women and the economy, hindering the achievement of some of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The queenmother indicated that the fight to combat breast cancer needed collective efforts and called on government, the Ghana Health Service, the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and individuals to join forces to fight against breast cancer.
She said: “This is the time for us all to come together to support, educate and take prudent actions, knowing that breast cancer is real, but when it is detected early, it can be treated, and lives can be saved.”
“Let’s join hands collectively to spread the message of hope, that breast cancer is not a death sentence, but early detection and treatment is key to survival.”
Pognaa Mumwilma emphasised that breast cancer has become a developmental challenge, affecting the workforce and the economy especially women and urged institutions who are responsible of saving lives to make breast cancer sensitization a daily conversation.
“When breast cancer sensitization becomes part of our daily conversation there is greatest chances to fight and curb the disease,” she added.
She noted that proper education and intensified public awareness campaigns, regular screening, self-examination and Mammogram, and expanded support services on breast cancer was important as that would save lives of victims.
She warned the public not to disregard the information about the disease of breast cancer and that hiding the disease without precautions could be dangerous and could result in the loss of lives.
“I urge everyone particularly women to avail themselves for testing, especially the mammogram for those who attained 40 and above for early detection and prompt treatment to save their lives”, she said.
She cautioned against using herbal medicine for potential breast cancer treatment, noting that the adverse effects on such actions could lead to preventable deaths.
She advised women to avoid alcoholism, drug abuse, excessive use of contraceptive pills, which according to her could be susceptible to the disease.
She stressed that breast cancer had evolved beyond a public health issue into developmental challenge, adversely affecting the Ghanaian economy since many women in the workforce were diagnosed with the disease.
The queenmother urged also the government to make allocation of resources to support breast cancer victims in underserved communities.
She noted that due to the inflated cost of treatment many of these victims in underserved communities were unable to afford the medication, which at the result in the loss of lives.
Source: GNA