Gender Ministry to organise 10-day free breast cancer screening

According to the Ghana Health Service, Ghana recorded 5,000 cases of breast cancer in 2025, with about 2,000 deaths. The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Naa Momo Lartey, said the situation poses a significant public health problem for the country.

As part of efforts to address the situation, the Minister has announced that her ministry will organise a 10-day free breast cancer screening exercise in Accra as part of a series of interventions to promote early detection and reduce deaths from the disease.

The exercise, which forms part of activities for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, will be held at the forecourt of the Ministry’s old office building and will be open to civil servants and members of the public.

The Minister made the announcement during the launch of the 2026 Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Ho, the Volta Regional capital, on Thursday, October 1, 2026.

She said the Ministry would also run a month-long social media campaign to provide accurate information on breast cancer, encourage early action and promote awareness of the disease.

The campaign will also include Pink Friday activities throughout October, while regional offices of the Ministry will organise complementary awareness and screening exercises in selected communities.

According to Dr Naa Momo Lartey, the regional activities are intended to extend the campaign beyond the launch and reach people at workplaces, churches, mosques, homes and communities across the country.

She said, “Figures remind us that breast cancer remains a significant public health problem. Our responses must therefore continue to emphasise awareness, early detection, timely diagnosis, and access to appropriate care.”

Dr Naa Momo Lartey also called for an end to the stigma and misconceptions surrounding breast cancer, urging the public to support people living with the disease and survivors.

She said early detection should not be considered a death sentence and encouraged people who detect symptoms to seek professional medical care promptly.

The Minister further urged the public not to rely solely on spiritual interventions before seeking medical attention, but to combine faith and prayer with appropriate medical treatment.

She expressed appreciation to the Office of the Vice President and President John Dramani Mahama for their support towards efforts to ensure that people affected by cancer have access to early treatment and care.

She said initiatives such as the Ghana Medical Trust Fund and Mahama Care were important interventions in supporting people who require medical assistance.

Dr Naa Momo Lartey said the campaign was being implemented under the theme, “Every Story is Unique, Every Journey Matters”, which recognises the different experiences of people affected by breast cancer and the varying forms of support they require.

She noted that breast cancer could affect not only a person’s physical health but also emotional wellbeing, family relationships, livelihoods and participation in community life.

“Treatment can affect employment, businesses, income, childcare and household responsibilities, especially for women already living in vulnerable circumstances,” she said.

She therefore stressed the need to link breast cancer awareness with broader efforts to promote women’s empowerment, social protection and family wellbeing.

The Minister also called for greater involvement of men and boys in the fight against breast cancer, saying the responsibility should not rest on women alone.

She said men and boys could encourage relatives to seek medical care, provide emotional and practical support, and share caregiving responsibilities.

The campaign’s sub-theme, “United for a Breast Cancer Free Ghana, Early Detection, Early Action, Better Outcomes”, she said, provided a clear call for awareness to be translated into timely action.

Dr Naa Momo Lartey assured breast cancer survivors that their stories and journeys mattered, saying the Ministry and the nation stood with them.

She pledged the Ministry’s continued collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Ghana Health Service, development partners and other stakeholders to strengthen awareness, advocacy and support for people and families affected by breast cancer.

She urged Ghanaians to make breast cancer awareness and prevention a year-round responsibility rather than limiting it to October.

“Let us act early. Let us support each other and let us work together,” she said.