The Asokwa Municipal Health Directorate has opened a dedicated breast cancer screening unit at the Nana Ama Serwaa Health Centre in Kaase, providing free services to women throughout October.
The facility has been launched as part of activities marking Breast Cancer Awareness Month, with health officials calling for greater use of screening to tackle the rising number of cases being identified at an advanced stage.
Faustina Osei Mensah, the Municipal Director of Health Services, said women of reproductive age should make breast screening an annual health appointment.
“We are having a lot of people who are having breast cancer, and it’s deteriorating, and it’s increasing. So, we want to have early detection to get a good outcome of it,” she said.
She also advised women to examine their breasts regularly after menstruation, while emphasising that self-checks should be complemented by professional screening at a health facility.
Dr Paa Kobina Forson, Project Director at Jhpiego, said breast cancer was the most common cancer affecting women in Ghana. However, he warned that diagnosis at a late stage was continuing to reduce the effectiveness of treatment.
He said more than 80% of women diagnosed with breast cancer in Ghana were found to have the disease at Stage 3 or Stage 4.
“These are late stages. And often, when it’s picked up late, management outcomes are very poor. If we are able to pick up women in Stage 1 and Stage 2, we have a good chance of ensuring that they survive, to take care of their family, to build our economy,” he said.
The campaign will also offer cervical cancer screening, allowing women attending health facilities to access services for both conditions.
Asokwa Municipal Chief Executive Amoh Kamel said the Nana Ama Serwaa Health Centre would be one of the screening locations available to women in the municipality and across the region.
“As an Assembly, we are working with the health directorate to strengthen primary healthcare, particularly in the prevention and early treatment of breast and cervical cancer”.
Kaasehene Nana Mensah Bonsu urged women to place their health ahead of wealth by attending regular breast cancer screening appointments.
Health authorities are encouraging women to use the free service during October, stressing that detecting cancer early can allow treatment to begin sooner and improve the chances of survival.
