Lack of mammogram services in Bono Region hampering early breast cancer detection

Correspondence from Bono Region

Lack of mammogram services in Bono Region hampering early breast cancer detection

Health professionals in the Bono Region have raised serious concerns over the absence of mammogram services in the entire region, warning that it is undermining efforts to detect and treat breast cancer early.

Currently, no public hospital in the region is equipped with a mammogram machine, a vital tool for screening and diagnosing breast cancer at its earliest stages and patients suspected of having the disease are often referred to facilities in Kumasi, a journey that comes with added financial and emotional strain.

According to the Ghana Health Service (GHS), breast cancer remains one of the top causes of death among women, with increasing cases recorded annually and health experts say the lack of access to screening services contributes to late detection, a leading cause of high breast cancer mortality rates in the region.

Dr Adinkra Kyeremeh, the Sunyani Municipal Health Director, who describes the situation as a major setback for cancer prevention and management, is urging stakeholders to provide a mammogram machine to aid in early detection and treatment.

“Many women delay seeking care because of the distance and cost involved in travelling for a mammogram, so by the time some patients arrive for diagnosis, the disease has already advanced.”

Making an appeal at the 2025 breast cancer awareness campaign launch and screening exercise organised by the Sunyani Municipal Health Directorate as part of the Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Dr Adinkra Kyeremeh, indicated that early detection through mammography has proven to significantly improve treatment outcomes and reiterated that by acquiring mammogram machines, the region can take a significant step towards improving breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.

The month of October is globally recognised as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, with campaigns worldwide encouraging early screening and regular check-ups, and the campaign focuses on encouraging women to engage in self-examination and develop early detection of breast cancer.