Cancer survivors call for increased public education
Breast cancer survivors, leading the fight against the disease, have called for increased public cooperation and support to reach out to everybody in the country.
The group, calling itself “Peace and Love Survivors Association” (PALSA), has been mentoring and counselling newly diagnosed patients to stick to the treatment regime – take their drugs without default.
The members had been brought together to engage in the cancer education campaign by the Breast Care International (BCI).
Mrs. Vivian Gyasi Sarfo, its President, said it was important for all – the government, NGOs, institutions and individuals, to combine their effort, to win the battle against the disease.
She made the call at the 2016 “BCI Ghana race for the cure” held in Kumasi, the nation’s second largest city.
The walk, the sixth in the country, was under the theme “Don’t be afraid, get checked, early detection and prompt action is equal to prevention”.
This year’s event, which focused on the youth, attracted students from selected first and second cycle schools from across the Ashanti region, women’s groups, youth organizations, security services and the general public.
Mrs. Sarfo said the survivors had gone through the pain of the disease and could better offer the required support, encouragement and comfort to the new patients “to navigate through the severe treatment regime”.
Dr. Mrs. Beatrice Wiafe Addai, President of BCI, said the youth was made the main focus of this year’s programme as part of a deliberate effort to secure “a breast cancer free generation in the foreseeable future”.
She noted that effective awareness creation among the youth in their early stages of development was crucial in getting the message powerfully across to them to aid them to do the right thing at all times.
She indicated that the disease was “treatable, curable and survivable”, and told women not to be afraid.
What is needed, is for them to do frequent self-breast examination and report any anomalies in their breast early for treatment.
She applauded Delta Airlines, Roche, Forever Easy, East Cantoments Pharmacy and other business entities that had over the years assisted in the organization of the breast cancer walk.
Source: GNA