Eight teachers died of cervical and breast cancer in E/R

Koforidua, May 26, GNA - Four female teachers died of cervical cancer and another four died of breast cancer all in the Easter Region (E/R) since January this year, raising concern about effects of non-communicable diseases on teachers in the area.

This was disclosed by the Eastern Regional Assistant Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Ms. Gifty Ampambil at a lecture on breast, cervical and prostrate cancers and hepatitis "B" organized for teachers by the GNAT-Ladies Association, in Koforidua on Tuesday.

She called on teachers to take advantage of opportunities being offered by GNAT and treat diseases affecting them and their families. Ms. Ampambil expressed worry that even though GNAT with support from health personnel organised a lecture and conducted breast screening for teaches in the region and some of the beneficiaries were referred for further screening and treatment, they refused to make themselves available. She advised all teachers to go through the various screening exercises and to vaccinate themselves and members of their families against hepatitis "B".

Dr. Armel Abou, Clinical Co-ordinator of the St. Joseph's Hospital in Koforidua, called on women groups to advocate for a policy to make breast, cervical and liver cancers treatable diseases under the National Health Insurance Scheme and annual screening of women above 30 years for signs of those diseases as part of the preventive measures under the scheme. He said that many women were dying of breast and cervical cancers and men were also dying of prostrate cancer, because of lack of knowledge and facilities for early detection and treatment. Dr. Abou said that some women with breast cancer stopped going to the hospital for treatment and adopted spiritual or herbal treatment only to return when the situation had deteriorated and little could be done to save them.

He said in some hospitals, physical examination of breast by medical officers for early detection and treatment of female patients had become an ethical issue. Dr. Abou said consequently, some doctors were refusing to physically examine breasts of women to the detriment of women suffering from breast cancer. Dr. Ebenezer Akrofi Mantey, Medical Superintendent of St. Joseph's Hospital, who spoke on prostrate cancer, advised men over 40 years to undergo annual check up for prostrate cancer.