The Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection (MoGCSP), through the Department of Gender, held a breast cancer awareness and screening exercise for market women at the Kaneshie Market Complex.
This initiative, following a successful exercise for female inmates at Nsawam, underscores the Ministry’s ongoing commitment to promoting women’s health and well-being. The event aimed to educate women on the importance of early detection and regular self-examinations, offering free screenings and consultations to encourage proactive health management.
As part of the Ministry’s broader campaign to raise breast cancer awareness, the exercise sought to ensure that women have access to timely diagnosis and treatment.
Addressing the market women, the Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Dakoa Newman, highlighted that breast cancer accounts for 31.8% of all cancers diagnosed in women in Ghana, with most cases detected at advanced stages due to a lack of awareness and access to healthcare services.
She emphasised that awareness brings education, which empowers action, stating, “Throughout this month, we see pink ribbons and hear numerous breast cancer-related campaigns urging regular screenings. These are powerful reminders that the fight against breast cancer is a shared responsibility.”
The Minister noted that over the years, the Gender Ministry has collaborated with the Ministry of Health, Ghana Health Service, and other stakeholders to undertake projects that promote women’s health and encourage healthy lifestyles beyond breast cancer.
She urged women to understand the importance of regular screenings, self-examinations, and early diagnosis, stressing that early detection remains one of the most effective tools in the fight against breast cancer.
Dakoa Newman further stated that every woman, regardless of her socioeconomic background, race, or geographical location, must have access to medical care and resources as a basic human right.
She added that breast cancer awareness should not end after October but continue throughout the year, and support for those impacted by the disease must remain unwavering.