SICLA holds sensitization forum on breast cancer; educates over 200 women

As part of measures to promote healthy lifestyle in the country, the SIC ladies Association (SICLA) has organized a 1-day training workshop to sensitize women and raise awareness on the dangers of breast cancer, its detection and control.

The workshop which was held concurrently for the various branches of the association under the SIC Insurance Company Limited (SIC) across the country namely; Accra area office, Tema area office, Kumasi area office, Takoradi area office saw over 200 women (members) of SICLA vigorously educated on how to detect breast cancer early, prevention and treatment options available.

Ms. Bernice Boachie, President of SICLA explaining the rationale behind the initiative said: “October is the breast cancer awareness month and that’s the major reason why we’ve decided to put up this particular event together to alert our women in the corporate institution especially here at the SIC about the practice of early detection and importance of breast examination”.

Dr. Yaw Asare, a medical practitioner at SIC Bob Freeman Clinic who facilitated one of the training sessions held at the SIC Head Office building in Accra on Wednesday, October 25, 2007 took the participant through series of contents on the disease including what causes breast cancer, its symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis, treatment as well as how it can be prevented.

In his presentation, Dr. Asare noted with grave concern breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed life-threatening cancer in women across the world.

He disclosed it is the leading cause of cancer death in women in less-developed countries which is surpassed only by lung cancer in advanced worlds.

According to him, the change in lifestyle has been the cause of the rising incidence of breast cancer in Africa, which Ghana is part and warned women who are most vulnerable to the disease against high volumes of alcohol consumption, working for long hours without rest, use of cosmetic implants among others to stay out of risk.

Dr. Asare finally called on all women to get themselves acquainted with their breast and be very observant to detect any signs of threat of breast cancer before it becomes too late adding, “you’ll be better protected once you seek early diagnosis, you’ll have the chance of survival”.



Breast cancer is said to be the most common invasive cancer in women, and the second main cause of cancer death in women, after lung cancer. Known for its debilitating effects on mostly women worldwide which is a worrying trend, the disease has been identified as leading malignancy and one of the most common causes of hospital admissions’ among women in Ghana.

Currently, many people have raised issues about the late detection of breast cancer leading to the difficulty in its treatment, a situation which is believed to have resulted to the death of many Ghanaian women.

But Dr. Yaw Asare believes the public awareness has improved drastically these days due to series of sensitization workshops that are being organized by various groups and individuals in the country including SICLA to raise awareness on the menace.

He therefore commended SICLA executives for embarking on the campaign initiative to educate its members and female workers within the corporate world to raise awareness on the deadly breast cancer disease.

In an interview, Ms. Bernice Boachie expressed worry over lack of knowledge on part of most women especially Ghanaians in the application of self-examination method as a possible means to the early detection of the disease.

She lamented even most women are not aware of when to undergo a mammography test, the statistics behind the number of women who are diagnosed of the disease on yearly basis including what can be done to fight the disease.

Ms. Boachie therefore called on all women in the country to get themselves equipped and empowered with the knowledge and on the disease including functions of their body organs, most especially the breast.

Dr. Baffour Awuah, Medical Director of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) who facilitated the seminar held for SICLA members at the Kumasi area office branch told participants’ awareness of the symptoms and the need for screening are important ways of reducing the risk.

He therefore charged them to impart the knowledge received to others as a way of contributing their quota meaningfully in the fight against the deadly breast cancer disease so they can also be empowered to stay out of risk.

SICLA was instituted 40 years ago as the first ladies association in Ghana.

The association exist to foster sisterhood in order to empower women and promote their welfare and rights against all forms of exploitation that limits the dignity of womanhood.

Membership of this noble association are female staffs of the SIC Insurance Company Limited, Ghana’s largest general insurer with the biggest nationwide coverage.