Thirty thousand people from all walks of life, today joined the historic Breast Care International Ghana Walk for the Cure event in Accra to increase awareness about Breast Cancer.
Participants, who were drawn from educational and religious institutions, keep fit clubs and other organised groupings, started the 10 kilometer Walk at the Obra Spot at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, under the theme; “Join the fight- together we can make a difference”.
Foreign participants made up of journalists, medical practitioners and researchers joined their local counterparts in a show of solidarity to Walk for the Cure.
They journeyed through the Kwame Nkrumah Avenue to the UTC and the Makola Market before navigating the Takie Tawiah roundabout and through the Law School before making it to the Kinbu Gardens, the Ministries and ending at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Breast Cancer Survivors, who have gone through all odds to prove that the disease is curable joined the Walk carrying placards some of which read; "we're stronger together", "Let's defeat Breast Cancer" "There's strength in numbers" "You're not alone in this fight" "There's hope in life" "We're all in this together" I am proud to be a survivor” and “Breast cancer is curable & survivable”.
The collective efforts of BCI, Breast Cancer Survivors and the general public in the search for a cure has proved to be a potent force in giving hope to women, who have shied away from facing the reality of the disease.
Breast Care International (BCI) and Peace and Love Hospitals working in collaboration with other stakeholders introduced the Walk for the Cure series in Accra after two successful events in Kumasi.
BCI has acknowledged the need to equally reach out to people in other parts of the country with education and awareness creation about Breast Cancer, hence the Accra event.
Free clinical breast screening was organized to inform participants about their status with regard the disease, which kills one woman in less than 2 minutes.
During the clinical screening participants were educated on how to perform breast self examination (BSE), which has been acknowledged as an effective means of early detection of Breast Cancer.
President of BCI and Captain of the Walk, Dr. (Mrs.) Beatrice Wiafe Addai, told participants at the Accra Sports Stadium that late reporting of breast cancer has been the greatest obstacle in successful treatment.
Advising women, she said “quickly report to hospital if you experience any abnormality in your breast for prompt treatment”.
President John Mahama said that achieving success in breast Cancer treatment would largely depend on knowledge and attitudinal change.
He described the Walk for the Cure as “a sine qua non in the fight against Breast Cancer in Ghana and organizers of this event deserve tons of commendation for assuming the responsibility of drumming up information and whipping up awareness of the disease”.
